Golden_cowry

<i>Callistocypraea aurantium</i>

Callistocypraea aurantium

Species of gastropod


Callistocypraea aurantium, (formerly classified inside genus lyncina) common name the golden cowrie, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.[2]

Quick Facts Callistocypraea aurantium, Scientific classification ...

Distribution

This is an uncommon-to-rare species which is found in the tropical waters of the west-central to south-central Pacific Ocean.

Habitat

This animal is usually found on the ocean side of islands, on the reef, at depths of 30 to 100+ feet. It normally hides in the coral during daylight and comes out to feed at night.

Shell description

This is a large cowry (80 to 100 mm long). The shell that is yellowish brown to reddish orange on the dorsum, with white to cream colored margins. The mantle of the golden cowry is a combination of dark gray with translucent spots and patches that the orange color of the shell shows through. The scattered branching papillae are brownish gray, often white at the bases and tips.

Human use

In the past, on the Fiji Islands, this shell, known as "bulikula", was drilled at the ends and worn on a string around the neck by chieftains as a symbol of rank or privilege.[3] As the shells are rare, they are prized by collectors.[citation needed]


References

  1. Eddie Hardy. "Callistocypraea aurantium".
  2. Callistocypraea aurantium (Gmelin, 1791). WoRMS (2009). Callistocypraea aurantium (Gmelin, 1791). Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=216865 on 5 June 2010 .
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This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Golden_cowry, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.