At
the spring of 1972, among the shells that I obtained from Greek shrimp
trawlers which were fishing in West Africa there were some Cypraeas. With
the first look I realized that these were different from the other Cypraea
species. After studying my books and comparing them with other Cypraea
I was quite sure that it was a new species. After
corresponding with Mr. Phillip W. Clover, I met him at the beginning of
December on 1972 in Cadiz, Spain during my honeymoon trip. Examining them
he also agreed that it was a new species and decided to describe them.
This description
was
published in the Journal of Conchology Vol. 28, p. 213-216 of1974. Mr.
Phillip W. Clover visited me in Athens in 1976. In the following years,
as I was far from shell collecting I had lost contact with him. It
was a nice surprise for me to meet him by chance in Mactan Isl. of Cebu,
Philippines during my trip on May 1997. Here is a photo of us in Coral
Reef Resort in Mactan Isl.
Phil.
Clover Angelica George
Various
articles have been written from serious Conchologists who had a doubt to
accept Cypraea Angelicae as a valid species. For
this reason and for the confusion there is in this group, I have
prepared this plate in which Conchologists more expert than me, can compare
the Cypraea Angelicae, Petiformis, Petitiana and Pyrum from West Africa,
in order to make up their own opinion. Please
note that the Cypraea Petitiana 24,8 mm has orange base which is very unusual
for this species. In
the book A GUIDE TO WORLDWIDE COWRIES of Felix Lorenz Jr. &
Alex Hubert the Cypraea Petiformis was mentioned as important Form or Variation
of Cypraea Angelicae. I believe that Cypraea Petiformis is closer to Cypraea
Petitiana.