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Tiger cowry
Group 1 - Pathological forms:
Rostration of one extremity only or extreme rostration if extremities are depressed instead of curved upwards. Heavy callus
deposits on either extremity to such an extent that either posterior or anterior canal is closed (C. vitellus in B. M. and C.
tigris in Dautz. Boll. where the posterior canals are closed). Lengthening of columellar lip (as in C. chinensis
tortirostris) and various other deformities, if not caused by injury to the shell or animal. Abnormal dorsal sculpture C.
tigris in Dautzenberg Boll. which has 1/4" long, grooved, red streaks) and the dark spots on C. lynx and white spots on C.
vitellus when risen up in the form of granules, all belong to group 1.
Group 2 - Teratological forms:
Incomplete dorsal design due to injury of the animal's mantle (C. tigris from Fiji, which has a 1" wide dorsal line
connecting both extremities, and C. asellus in coll. Schilder with only 2 brown dorsal zones instead of 3). Misplaced dorsal
ornamentation (C. argus) and the doubling of the yellow ring in C. annulus. Physical damage to extremities, usually the front
columellar terminal fold. In such a ease the break is smoothed over, but not replaced. This is a common occurrence in 40% of
specimens of C. dillwyni, and of C. cribraria and C. summersi from one locality in Fiji. Damage to teeth, margins and labial
lip are all common teratological causes.
Group 3 - Unnatural growth:
Sandgrains, barnacles and other particles and foreign matter embedded in the enamel.
Dr. Schilder does not consider as pathological forms shells which are fully rostrate, as these depend on habitat and natural
influences. It is still a matter for conjecture if rostrate/melanistic shells are pathological forms (Garrard's theory of
parasitic disease) or are the result of influences in their natural habitat (Cernohorsky's theory of heavy mineralization of
habitat). Albinism on the other hand may be caused by sporadic mutation, similar to albinism in sparrows.
References: F.A. Schilder: Missbildungen an Schalen der Cypraeacea. (Z. f. Morph. & Oek. d. Tiere, Bd.19,H.1, 1930).
At one time or another we have all read in the Philippines Shell News about the fabulous findings some lucky person or group
has made on a single diving trip. Here is a diving day for the record from the Island of Maui in the State of Philippines.
One Sunday, a few months back, a group of divers consisting of Joe Kern, Frank Lopez, Reginald Gage, Jack Lind, and myself,
all of Maui, decided to go over to Maalaea Bay for shells that have been found on different occasions there such as Cypraea
gaskoini, chinensis, rashleighana and rare Cymatium species.
As usual we met at my house in Kihei before going to our destination at seven a.m. It was a cloudy, cold day. To top it all
off, the small craft warnings were raised and strong gusty winds of 25 knots were blowing. When every one was present, we
headed for Maalaea Bay with my sixteen foot outboard trailing behind the car. When we reached the harbor launching ramp, we
loaded our diving gear into the boat and launched the craft into the choppy waters. Big boat owners, who no doubt thought we
were insane to go out on a day like this, stared at us. Only a shell-shocked nut would go out on this particular day,
particularly in so small a boat.
After a short run, we were over the spot where we intended to dive. Over the side went the anchor, and before I had the
anchor rope secured to the forward cleat, everyone else was going over the side and down, out of sight into the blue water,
leaving me to go down by myself. My shell collecting buddies!!
Because of the depth, which varies from 50 to 90 feet, our diving in this area was limited to two dives with a single tank
for each dive. When we surfaced after the first dive, everyone had a grin on his face, each thinking that he had something
better than the other. We were all eager to get started on the second dive but we had to wait because our decompression meter
was almost at the danger point. Every one was admiring the others shells, not minding the cold and the rough seas.
As each fragment is pried off it is checked for shells and then tossed into the area previously cleared. The reason for this
method is that some shells drop off the coral the moment it is disturbed. Others hang on momentarily then drop off. After the
coral-head has been demolished, I again check each piece previously tossed aside, searching for any shells that might still
be clinging to the coral or that have dropped off as the coral hit the cleared area. By this time the area originally
occupied by the coral-head should have cleared up and I start fanning the silt under the coral-head.
In 40 to 50 feet of water a coral-head such as this might produce several species of Cypraea, the species depending on the
marine growth in the coral. Most Cypraea tessellata that I have collected have been found in such a coral-head and almost
always there was a brownish, leaf-like algal growth into which the tessellata blended perfectly. If the coral-head contained
a reddish, sponge-like growth, Cypraea fimbriata, teres, gaskoini, and rashleighana might be found. If a brilliant, yellowish
growth is present no shells are likely to be found. Most Cypraea will be found in the upper branches of the coral head.
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