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A new specimen of Cypraeovula
amphithlaes perdentata Raybaudi, 1995, found off South
Africa
In 1995 Raybaudi first described a, at that time unique, specimen
thought to be
Cypraea amphithales Melvill, 1888. (See
also Lorenz & Hubert, 1993: 568). The specimen that Raybaudi
described measured about 35mm. Raybaudi viewed this as a hybrid
between Cyp. capensis and Cyp. fuscodentata, and called it
Cypraeovula amphithales perdentata.
The specimen featured here is a second specimen of perdentata
measuring 36.9mm. It is figured in the above 4 photos, with photo #
4 being figured with an average-sized specimen of
Cypraea
capensis of 26 mm !!!!
This specimen was found off Algoa Bay /Jeffreys Bay area, which is
the region where the range of C. capensis and C. fuscodentata
overlap, fitting in with Raybaudi’s conclusion.
The specimen in the above photos is very heavy and mature, showing
the lovely dark mottled dorsal colours typical of deep-water C.
fuscodentata from off Algoa Bay. (as shown in the photo below).
The
perdentata also has the teeth of a C. capensis and not
that of a C. fuscodentata.
So, it appears to be a very rare hybrid species !!!
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