Millet Cowry
Naria miliaris
Also known as: Cowry, Fuzzy Cowry, Inocellate Cowry, Military Cowry, Cypraea miliaris
- Cowry
- Fuzzy Cowry
- Inocellate Cowry
- Military Cowry
- Cypraea miliaris
Overview
Found under rocks and over seaward slopes, often in shallow surge zones of sandy lagoons.
They feed nocturnally primarily on sponges, algae and invertebrates.
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.
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-Pacific
- Country only · 1
Found under rocks and over seaward slopes, often in shallow surge zones of sandy lagoons.
Adult photos 1
Discussion
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Deep dive
Taxonomy
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumMollusca
- classGastropoda
- orderLittorinimorpha
- familyCypraeidae
- genusNaria
- speciesNaria miliaris (Gmelin, 1791)
SourcesWoRMS
More in the family
Sea Snails (Cypraeidae)






