Callistocypraea aurantium

Callistocypraea aurantium
Five views of a shell of Callistocypraea aurantium
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Cypraeidae
Genus: Callistocypraea
Species:
C. aurantium
Binomial name
Callistocypraea aurantium
(Gmelin, 1791)
Synonyms
  • Cypraea aurantium Gmelin, 1791
  • Cypraea aurora Lamarck, 1810
  • Lyncina aurantium (Gmelin, 1791)

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.

Distribution

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

Habitat

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

Shell description

This is a large cowry, 80 to 100 mm (3.1 to 3.9 in) long.[citation needed] The shell that is yellowish brown to reddish orange on the dorsum, with white to cream colored margins.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed] The scattered branching papillae are brownish gray, often white at the bases and tips.[citation needed]

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. As the shells are rare, they are prized by collectors.[citation needed]

References

  1. ↑ Eddie Hardy. "Callistocypraea aurantium".
  2. ↑ WoRMS. "Callistocypraea aurantium (Gmelin, 1791)". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  3. ↑ Cowries as a badge of rank in Fiji. (archived)