- Cypraeovula fuscodentata
-
Dark-toothed cowrie 
Cypraeovula fuscodentata Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda (unranked): clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade LittorinimorphaSuperfamily: Cypraeoidea Family: Cypraeidae Genus: Cypraeovula Species: C. fuscodentata Binomial name Cypraeovula fuscodentata
(J. E. Gray, 1825)Synonyms[1] Cypraea fuscodentata J. E. Gray, 1825
The dark-toothed cowrie (also spelled 'cowry') is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a predatory marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.[1]
Contents
Subspecies
Two subspecies have been recognized :[1]
- Cypraeovula fuscodentata grohorum Lorenz, 2002
- Cypraeovula fuscodentata sphaerica Lorenz, 2002
Distribution
The dark-toothed cowrie is known off the southern African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Port Alfred, subtidally to at least 25m. The species is endemic to this region[2].
Description
Cypraeovula dentata, apertural view
The dark-toothed cowrie has a medium-sized shell which may grow to 60mm in total length. The shell is smooth and caramel-coloured. It is flecked with pale blue or mauve, but in live specimens is usually covered with the mantle. The mantle is tawny and may be spotted with black. The shell's undersides, which are not visible in living animals, are strongly ribbed. The ribs are toffee-coloured[3],[4].
Ecology
This animal is never common, but where found, is usually associated with black sponges[4].
References
- ^ a b c WoRMS : Cypraeovula fuscodentata accessed : 14 October 2010
- ^ Kilburn R. & Rippey E. 1982. Sea Shells of Southern Africa Macmillan ISBN 0-86954-094-7
- ^ Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2005. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 0-86486-672-0
- ^ a b Liltved, William Rune. Cowries and their relatives of southern Africa: A study of the southern African Cypraeacean and Velutinacean gatropod fauna, Gordon Verhoef, Seacomber Publications, 2000. ISBN 0908 42089 7
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