Cowry Shell
Description. scientific name is Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, Family is Cypraeidae. It is a large heavy shell with a flat or concave base. The teeth on outer lip are broad and short, while the opposite teeth are thin and longer. The exception are the four lowest teeth, which are larger and shorter. The color pattern is set against a white background color, occurring in two layers. The underlying layer is bluish gray, the upper layer is reddish to dark brown. These patterns on both layers have numerous spots and blobs. The spots of the upper layer often is surrounded by a yellowish orange color. There have been on rare occasions an all black shell discovered. These shells are gastropods (mollusk that creates a single shell)and are fairly common in the Indo-Pacific region. These species are nocturnal. Hidden in the coral reefs during the day and out feeding at night primarily on algae.
