Callistocypraea aurantium

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Callistocypraea aurantium
Cypraeida lyncina aurantium 600x600.jpg
A lateral view of a shell of Callistocypraea aurantium, anterior end towards the left
Golden Cowrie.JPG
Dorsal view of a shell of Callistocypraea aurantium, anterior end to the right
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Cypraeidae
Genus: Callistocypraea
Species:
C. aurantium
Binomial name
Callistocypraea aurantium
(Gmelin, 1791)
Synonyms [1]
  • 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. [2]

Contents

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowrie</span> Common name for a group of sea snails

Cowrie or cowry (pl. cowries) is the common name for a group of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cypraeidae</span> Family of gastropods

Cypraeidae, commonly named the cowries, is a taxonomic family of small to large sea snails. These are marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Cypraeoidea, the cowries and cowry allies.

<i>Luria isabella</i> Species of gastropod

Luria isabella, common names Isabel's cowry, Isabella cowry or fawn-coloured cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Leporicypraea mappa</i> Species of gastropod

Leporicypraea mappa, common name the map cowry, is a species of large sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Bistolida stolida</i> Species of gastropod

Bistolida stolida, common name the stolid cowrie, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Cribrarula cribraria</i> Species of gastropod

Cribrarula cribraria, the 'sieve/tan and white cowry', is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

Callistocypraea broderipii is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Lyncina carneola</i> Species of gastropod

Lyncina carneola, common name the carnelian cowrie, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Lyncina lynx</i> Species of gastropod

Lyncina lynx, common name : the lynx cowry or eyed cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

Callistocypraea nivosa is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Lyncina vitellus</i> Species of gastropod

Lyncina vitellus, common name : the calf cowry or the Pacific deer cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Erronea onyx</i> Species of gastropod

Erronea onyx, common name the onyx cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Lyncina camelopardalis</i> Species of gastropod

Lyncina camelopardalis, common name the camel cowrie, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Mauritia depressa</i> Species of gastropod

Mauritia depressa, common name the "depressed cowry" or the "honey cowry", is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Monetaria annulus</i> Species of gastropod

Monetaria annulus, common name the ring cowrie, ring top cowrie, or gold ring cowrie, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Nucleolaria nucleus</i> Species of gastropod

Nucleolaria nucleus, the wrinkled cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Lyncina</i> Genus of gastropods

Lyncina is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Lyncina schilderorum</i> Species of mollusc

Lyncina schilderorum, common names the sandy cowry or Schilder's cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. This species was named in honor of Franz and Maria Schilder, two German cowry biologists.

<i>Lyncina sulcidentata</i> Species of gastropod

Lyncina sulcidentata, common name the square-toothed cowry or groove-toothed cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Lyncina ventriculus</i> Species of gastropod

Lyncina ventriculus is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

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)
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