Depressed Cowrie
Mauritia depressa
- Group: Other
- Max size: 6 cm
- For divers: safe
The glossy domed shell of this cowrie stays polished because the animal wraps it in two fleshy folds of mantle as it moves. It feeds at night on algae across rock platforms and reef crests in rough shallow water, and people gather it for food and for the shell itself.
Taxonomy: Animalia › Mollusca › Gastropoda › Littorinimorpha › Cypraeidae › Mauritia
Species data via the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), AphiaID 216871.
FAQ
- Is the Depressed Cowrie dangerous to divers?
- The Depressed Cowrie is harmless to divers.
- How big does the Depressed Cowrie get?
- The Depressed Cowrie grows to about 6 cm.