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Shark tooth
In his paper Crawford Cate gave statistical notes on (7) C. chinensis from Philippines. The formula of these (7) specimens is
34/70, 15:16 (reduced). However, (3) of these specimens are only 67%, 68%, and 69% in width in relation to the shell's
length. My own shells of C. chinensis from Mauritius have a mean width of 67% of the shell length, and also have a produced
marginal callus. A shell of C. chinensis from Diego Suarez which Dautzenberg named C. chinensis variolaria - variation
convergens is 69% in width in relation to its length. (See illustration in Dautzenberg's collection of Cypraeidae). Crawford
Cate based his separation of the Philippines amiges on the following characteristics: The Philippines shells are broader (67%
- 74% in width in relation to the length), they have a more produced marginal callus, which is marked with spots of a deep
violet color, the teeth are less numerous in amiges and extend as concave ridges onto the broad fossula. Cate further
mentions the design of the dorsal lacunae. However, every active field collector who has handled hundreds of specimens of a
species, is aware of the extreme variability of a species even if it comes from the same locality. Since the colour hues and
dorsal design within a species from the same locality are extremely variable, this characteristic, which is by no means
constant, does not constitute a valid argument in favor of separation and should be disregarded.
The diagnostic characteristics of amiges as outlined by C. Cate, are present in other races of C. chinensis as follows: The
greater width of amiges is present in specimens of C. chinensis variolaria from Mauritius. The fewer teeth of amiges are
identical to the number of teeth in specimens of variolaria from Mauritius and come very close to those of C. chinensis
sydneyensis and C. chinensis violacea. It should be remembered that the tooth count of a given species in a population can
vary as much as plus or minus (3) teeth from the mean, or (6) teeth in individuals. The concave ridges (inner denticles)
extending onto the fossula are by no means a prerogative of amiges, but are distinct on specimens of C. chinensis in my
collection, and those which came from the Philippines, Mauritius and Fiji.
The few peculiarities of amiges as mentioned by C. Cate are present in almost every race of C. chinensis, but come closest to
specimens of variolaria from Mauritius (and possibly from other parts of the central Indian Ocean). The only small difference
between the subspecies variolaria and amiges is the 6% greater width of amiges as compared with Schilder's statistical
figures, and only 3% as compared with my own actual specimens from Mauritius. This is a greater width of 1-1/2 mm. and 3/4mm.
respectively in a shell of 25mm. length, and is insignificant.
Cate also stresses the rarity of C. chinensis in Philippines and that it occupies a different ecological niche as compared
with specimens of C. chinensis in other localities. C. chinensis is rare in Australia, and extremely rare in Fiji. C.
chinensis had been dredged in Sydney harbor from deep water. Dr. A. Kay pointed out in one of her papers the reasons for the
shift in ecological habitat of Philippines Cypraea as compared with shells of the same species from other Pacific localities.
Not only C. chinensis but the majority of Philippines Cypraea have a different benthic range as compared with Cypraea from
other parts of the Pacific region. Ecological habitat of a given species of Cypraea may vary in a locality as small as Fiji:
C. mappa viridis is usually found in shallow water in Fiji, however, in one locality C. mappa lives only at a depth of 30
feet, and is never collected in shallow water.
The next two days were spent reveling in the lowness of the tides, and the areas uncovered went further and further out to
sea. Our bag increased as the previous days went by. Every now and then a shout would go up from one of us as something new
came up. On the last day, Jack and Alan took off in a small sampan on which we had tied a crazy looking transom to attach the
"Seagull" engine to. Off they went to conquer new territory.
Stephen and I stayed in "Strombus Bay" and as the tide went out further and further so did we. In one great field of staghorn
coral I found some beautiful Turbo petholatus, and so many astraea with lovely rose colored apertures and operculums [sic]
that they looked like raspberries. We collected them in great numbers. Also, in this area we found many Cypraea arabica, of
which one adult only measured 1-1/4 inches in length. In our enthusiasm, we had not noticed the increased shallowness of the
water. It was impossible to walk so we had to crawl over coral, literally breaking our way through to clear water. Our knees
and elbows bore evidence of its sharpness. On the way back, I uncovered to my joy a fine large Conus omaria, and a lovely
Conus terebra. It was a tired and happy Johnnie Johnson who finally staggered up the beach with aching limbs.
As evening came on, Jack and Stephen, although tired, had to go in for one last look while I started to prepare a supper,
which we were doomed not to have. At about six o'clock a mighty storm came up similar to one we had on our last trip. Nature
seemed reluctant to let us get away with her treasures lightly, so for the next five hours we huddled under our somewhat
inadequate cover while the rain came down with unabated ferocity. As the evening without supper passed into night, the
strenuous shelling efforts aided us to sleep. Next morning we broke camp and boarded the boat for the trip back to the
mainland.
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