Red Sea cowrie
NameRed Sea cowrie
Scientific NameErosaria turdus
Common NameRed Sea Cowrie, Thrush Cowrie
FamilyCypraeidae
GenusErosaria
Speciesturdus
Geographic DistributionRed Sea, Gulf of Aden, East Africa (e.g., Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania), and parts of the Western Indian Ocean.
Habitatintertidal
Average Size (mm)35
Identifying FeaturesSmooth, glossy, ovate shell with a characteristic blotchy brown pattern on a white background. The aperture is narrow and lined with fine teeth (though not visible in this dorsal view).
Raritycommon
Author CitationLamarck, 1810
Description
The Red Sea cowrie, *Erosaria turdus*, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae. Its shell is characterized by a smooth, glossy, ovate shape with a distinctive pattern of irregular brown blotches on a white or pale cream background. It is commonly found in the Red Sea and surrounding areas.
