Black cowry
NameBlack cowry
Scientific NameCypraea mauritiana
Common NameBlack cowry, Humpback Cowry, Mauritian Cowry
FamilyCypraeidae
GenusCypraea
Speciesmauritiana
Geographic DistributionIndo-Pacific region, including East Africa, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Central Pacific, extending to Hawaii.
Average Size (mm)50-130
Identifying FeaturesLarge, heavy, humped, and highly polished shell. Distinctive dark brown/black coloration with lighter, irregular patterns on the dorsal side. Dark base and margins. Narrow, toothed aperture. The dark, often papillose, mantle of the living animal is also a key identifier.
Raritycommon
Author Citation(Linnaeus, 1758)
Description
A large, heavy marine gastropod, commonly known as the Humpback Cowry or Mauritian Cowry, and sometimes referred to as the 'Black Cowry' due to its dark coloration. The shell is ovate and highly polished, featuring a dark brown to blackish-brown dorsal surface adorned with irregular, lighter yellowish or reddish-brown flame-like patterns. The living animal displays a dark, often black, mantle that typically extends to partially cover the shell. It inhabits rocky reefs in the Indo-Pacific.
