Cypraea moneta

Cypraea moneta Linnaeus, 1758
Money cowrie

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:

Source and more info: www.sealifebase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.