CYPREA LYNX DEFORMED BY DISEASE.
by John Ford
A very remarkable series of shells comprising sixty or more specimens
of diseased Cypraea Iynx (Fig. 1, 2, 3) was recently secured
by the writer while examining a barrel of mixed species of Cypraea
that apparently came direct from Singapore, E. Indies. As much
of the animal matter remained in all of the shells it seems quite
probably that they were barreled indiscriminately, as soon as
obtained. The action of the disease appears to have been the
same in all the specimens, the chief abnormal characters being
a pallid and emaciated appearance of the outer margin of the
right lip, and the outward bow-like curve of the same (fig. 1).
In some instances from within the lip a thin, shelf-like partition, suggesting a former imperfect lip projected partly across the cavity. Several millimeters above this partition a second lip appears with teeth that are fairly normal (fig. 2). In fig. 3 a shell is shown in which a flat, white shelf-like lip replaces the convex and crenulated peristome of the normal shell. Other irregular characters are present, but those specified are the most important. As a rule the left lip and dorsal parts of the shell exhibit normal conditions both of form and color. So far as can be learned no specimens similarly affected have been heretofore observed. No evidence of the disease was apparent in the associated species. Representative specimens have been presented to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and to the Wagner Free Institute of Science. A fine suite may also be seen in the writer's collection.
From: Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, 1897, Philadelphia, p. 328
