WHATSTHATFISH
Sea slugs & snails

Cowrie

Cypraea

Also known as: - No other name

Adult
@dannyatb9 · Dubai, United Arab Emirates · October 20131 / 1
01

Overview

Found in shallow waters, in caves, beneath dead corals and under ledges. Their shells are shiny.
They feed nocturnally on carrion, molluscs, seaweed and sponges.

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 cowry's 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
Body shape
shells
Behaviour
nocturnal

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Worldwide
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found in shallow waters, in caves, beneath dead corals and under ledges.

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Adult photos 1

05

Discussion 1

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1 comment

  • fishx6Top Contributor· 15 Jan 2018

    Yes just post it to the site!

    Helpful
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FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

Deep dive

Taxonomy

  1. kingdomAnimalia
  2. phylumMollusca
  3. classGastropoda
  4. orderLittorinimorpha
  5. familyCypraeidae
  6. genusCypraea Linnaeus, 1758

SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

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More in the family

Sea Snails (Cypraeidae)