Cypraea spadicea

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Cypraea spadicea
Cypraea spadicea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Family: Cypraeidae Genus: Cypraea Species: C. spadicea
Binomial name
Cypraea spadicea Swainson, 1823

Cypraea spadicea, common name the chestnut cowrie, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

Contents 1 Distribution 2 Shell description 3 Habitat 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Distribution

This species is a subtropical cowry of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

This species is relatively common in Southern California. It does occur from Monterey, California, through Southern California, and south to Cedros Island, in Baja California, Mexico, but north of Santa Barbara, California, it is not often found.

[edit] Shell description

The adult shell of this species ranges in size from 40 to 65 mm. The name "chestnut cowry" come from a large patch of a rich chestnut brown on the dorsum of the shell, ringed with a darker brown, against a white background.

[edit] Habitat

This species lives on exposed rocky shores in the very low intertidal and subtidal zones. It is found on overhanging rock ledges or in on other somewhat sheltered rock surfaces.

[edit] References

• McLean, James H., 1978 Marine Shells of Southern California, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Museum, Science Series 24, Revised Edition: 1-104, ISBN 0938644033; ISBN 978-0938644033

[edit] External links

• Lots of images at: [1]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cypraea spadicea

• Info including aquarium tips at: [2]