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Cypraea moneta Linnaeus, 1758 Money cowrie |
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photo by
Batoy, Corazon B. |
Family: | Cypraeidae (cowries) | |||
Max. size: | 4.5 cm SHL (male/unsexed) | |||
Environment: | benthic; marine; depth range 0 - 70 m | |||
Distribution: | Indo-Pacific: East and South Africa to eastern Polynesia. | |||
Diagnosis: | ||||
Biology: | Commonly collected in large quantities for shellcraft. Once used as a currency in Pacific and Indian Ocean countries, the shell remains as a divinatory item by some animist tribes in tropical Africa (Ref. 349). Found in shallow subtidal depths (Ref. 349); in reef areas of lagoons (Ref. 97298). Members of the family Cypraeidae are primarily carnivores (Ref. 67623). | |||
IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251) | |||
Threat to humans: | harmless | |||
Country info: |
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