chickpea cowrie
Namechickpea cowrie
Scientific NameNucleolaria cicercula
Common Namechickpea cowrie
FamilyCypraeidae
GenusNucleolaria
Speciescicercula
Geographic DistributionIndo-Pacific region, including areas from East Africa to the central Pacific, and north to Japan.
Average Size (mm)15
Identifying FeaturesKey identifying features include its granular or pustulose dorsal surface, the characteristic chickpea-like shape (small, rounded, and humped), the presence of a dorsal brown streak, and the finely toothed aperture. The anterior and posterior canals are relatively short and somewhat flared.
Dietdetritivore
Raritycommon
Author CitationLinnaeus, 1758
Description
A small, ovate cowrie shell characterized by its distinctly granular or pustulose dorsal surface. The shell is humped dorsally and flattened ventrally, featuring a long, narrow, and finely toothed aperture. It exhibits a pale, creamy-yellowish base color with scattered brown spots and a characteristic darker brown dorsal streak.
