WHATSTHATFISH
Sea slugs & snails

Tiger Cowrie

Cypraea tigris

Also known as: Cowie, Cowrie Tiger, Potato Cowrie, Tiger Shell, Tiger Snail

Adult
@blogie · Kaputian Beach, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · October 20111 / 8
01

Overview

Found in the arms of branching corals, on ledges, over sand, often close to seaweed areas.
They feed nocturnally on carrion, molluscs, seaweed, and sponges.

Cypraeidae have beautiful shiny 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
Pattern
speckled
Body shape
shells
Behaviour
nocturnal

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 8
LIVES IN

Found in the arms of branching corals, on ledges, over sand, often close to seaweed areas.

04

Adult photos 8

05

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. genusCypraea
    7. speciesCypraea tigris Linnaeus, 1758

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Sea Snails (Cypraeidae)