little Arabian cowrie
Namelittle Arabian cowrie
Scientific NameMauritia arabicula
Common NameLittle Arabian Cowrie
FamilyCypraeidae
GenusMauritia
Speciesarabicula
Geographic DistributionIndo-Pacific, specifically the Western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea, East Africa, and Madagascar.
Habitatsubtidal
Average Size (mm)20-45
Identifying FeaturesGlossy, ovate shell; characteristic reticulated brown dorsal pattern; prominent dark spots along the lateral margins of the base; narrow, finely toothed aperture.
Raritycommon
Author Citation(Lamarck, 1810)
Description
The image displays a living specimen of the Little Arabian Cowrie, a marine gastropod mollusk. Its shell is smooth, glossy, and ovate, characterized by a distinctive mottled brown pattern on the dorsal surface, often with a reticulated appearance. The sides and base are lighter, typically cream or whitish, adorned with prominent dark brown to black spots along the margins. The animal's mantle is partially retracted, revealing the shell, and its tentacles are visible. It is observed in its natural habitat, a shallow marine environment, resting on a rocky substrate covered with some algae.
