Lentiginous cowrie
NameLentiginous cowrie
Scientific NameErosaria lentiginosa
Common NameLentiginous cowrie
FamilyCypraeidae
GenusErosaria
Specieslentiginosa
Geographic DistributionIndo-Pacific, primarily found in the Indian Ocean, including the coasts of India, Sri Lanka, and parts of the Arabian Sea.
Habitatintertidal
Average Size (mm)20-50
Identifying FeaturesDistinguished by its ovate, glossy shell with a characteristic pattern of reddish-brown spots on a pale background. The extended mantle with its distinctive branched papillae is also a key identifying feature for the living animal.
Raritycommon
Author Citation(J.E. Gray, 1825)
Description
A living specimen of the Lentiginous cowrie, a marine gastropod mollusc. The shell is ovate, smooth, and glossy, with a distinctive pattern of reddish-brown spots and blotches on a white to cream background. The animal's mantle, which is orange-brown and covered with numerous branched papillae, is partially extended over the shell, a common behavior for cowries when active. The specimen is observed on a sandy or muddy substrate in shallow water.
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