WHATSTHATFISH
Sea slugs & snails

Arabian Cowry

Mauritia arabica

Also known as: Arabica Asiatica Cowry, Cowry, Dogrose Cowry, Porcelain Snail, Tiger Cowry

Adult
@MBP349 · Fish Rock Cave, Australia · September 20201 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly, during the day under slabs and stones, foraging for food at night, over shallow waters, of lagoons, coral and rocky reefs, and in tide-pools. Shiny shells collected by locals for both food and their shells.
They feed nocturnally on algae, tiny fish, molluscs, sponges, and worms.

Cypraeidae have beautiful shells and equally beautiful mantles.
The Cowries are probably the most admired and sought after by shell collectors.
Cowries have few predators, but the mollusc-eating cones like Conus textile and octopus can inject venom into the cowries flesh through a small hole and then sucks out the contents.
The mantle is like a cloak around the shell, highly muscular and when it contracts it forces water through the tubular siphon to propel itself rapidly through the water.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
speckled

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, during the day under slabs and stones, foraging for food at night, over shallow waters, of lagoons, coral and rocky reefs, and in tide-pools.

04

Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumMollusca
    3. classGastropoda
    4. orderLittorinimorpha
    5. familyCypraeidae
    6. genusMauritia
    7. speciesMauritia arabica (Linnaeus, 1758)

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Sea Snails (Cypraeidae)