Leporicypraea mappa

Last updated

Map cowry
Cypraea mappa.jpg
A live individual of Leporicypraea mappa with the mantle mostly retracted
Leporicypraea mappa 01.JPG
Five views of a shell of Leporicypraea mappa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda

clade Hypsogastropoda

clade Littorinimorpha
Superfamily:
Cypraeoidea
Family:
Cypraeidae
Subfamily:
Cypraeinae
Genus:
Leporicypraea
Species:
L. mappa
Binomial name
Leporicypraea mappa
Synonyms [1]

Cypraea mappa(Linnaeus, 1758) [2]
Cypraea alga Perry, 1811
Cypraea mappa var. rosea Gray, 1824
Cypraea mappa var. subsignata Melvill, 1888
Cypraea montosaRoberts, 1870
Cypraea montrouzieri Dautzenberg, 1903
Leporicypraea cinereoviridescensBouge, 1961
Leporicypraea mappa rewaSteadman & Cotton, 1943
Leporicypraea viridisKenyon, 1902
Mauritia mappa geographicaSchilder & Schilder, 1933

Contents

Leporicypraea mappa (previously known as Cypraea 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.

This is considered an economically important species in the Indo-West Pacific, where it is usually collected both for food and for shell trading. [3]

The map cowry was named on the basis of its distinct color pattern, because of the longitudinal lines and the easily distinguishable and sinuous mantle groove, which creates a resemblance to ancient maps. [3]

Taxonomy

Leporicypraea mappa was previously subordinated into the genus Cypraea . In the currently most accepted taxonomy of the Cypraeidae by Lorenz & Hubert (2000), this species is considered to be within the genus Leporicypraea , with several subspecies. [4] Recently, the division of this taxon in two or even three nominal species based on morphological and molecular characters has been suggested. [5]

Subspecies

Subspecies of Leporicypraea mappa include according to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS): [6]

The Indo-Pacific Molluscan also includes: [1]

Shell description

Dorsal view of a shell of the map cowry, Leporicypraea mappa. The anterior end is towards the bottom Cypraea-mappa.jpg
Dorsal view of a shell of the map cowry, Leporicypraea mappa. The anterior end is towards the bottom
Comparing the color pattern of the shell of Leporicypraea mappa (left) and an ancient Chinese topographic map (right) Cypraea mappa map comparison.jpg
Comparing the color pattern of the shell of Leporicypraea mappa (left) and an ancient Chinese topographic map (right)

The maximum shell length of this species is up to 10 cm, but it more commonly grows up to about 8 cm. [3]

The shell of Leporicypraea mappa is globose, with a near elliptical, slightly elongate outline. In affinity to other Cypraeidae, the aperture of the shell is very narrow, and relatively long. Both the inner and outer lips are ornamented with arrays of small teeth, though the teeth of the outer lip are shorter and stronger in comparison to the teeth of the inner lip, which are thinner and more numerous. [3] Its dorsal side is normally inflated, while the ventral side of the shell is slightly concave.

The shell is colored white or cream, with several longitudinal brown lines, which are sometimes interrupted by circular empty spaces. The cursory dorsal mantle groove line is dissimilar to the shells general color pattern, completely devoid of lines, thus easily perceivable. Its sinuous appearance, with several branches and notches, makes it a diagnostic character for this species. This exotic color pattern gives an appearance similar to that of ancient maps, hence the specific and common names. Both the ventral side of the shell and the labral teeth may vary greatly in color, assuming shades of white or cream, or even purple, brown, orange [3] or pink. [7]

Distribution

A map of the distribution of Leporicypraea mappa Wyst-mappa.jpg
A map of the distribution of Leporicypraea mappa

Leporicypraea mappa is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific. It is present in many regions, including East Africa, Madagascar, southeastern Red Sea, eastern Polynesia, southern Japan, Australia and New Caledonia. [3]

This exceptionally wide range may possibly be an artifact. Some conchologists claim that the taxonomy of the species is poorly resolved; if the map cowry is discovered to be cryptic species complex, then this could drastically change the range of its distribution. [8]

Ecology

Habitat

The map cowry lives in the intertidal and sublittoral zones, usually in coral reef areas, dwelling under slabs and stones at depths of 45 m. [3]

Human uses

The flesh of the map cowry is edible, and it is commonly collected by local fishermen for food and shell trading wherever it occurs. It is sold in fish markets in the northern Philippines. [3] The shells of Cypraea mappa (as it was previously known) were considered rare, exotic and beautiful, and were highly prized by private shell collectors in the late 1950s. [7]

Related Research Articles

<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>Mauritia mauritiana</i> Species of gastropod

Mauritia mauritiana, common names the humpback cowry, chocolate cowry, mourning cowry and Mauritius cowry, is a species of tropical sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

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

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

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

Monetaria moneta, common name the money cowrie, is a species of small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

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

Monetaria caputserpentis, common name the serpent's-head cowry or snakehead cowry, is a species of cowry, a sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

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

Mauritia arabica, common name the Arabian cowry, is a species of cowry, a sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Cypraea tigris</i> Species of gastropod

Cypraea tigris, commonly known as the tiger cowrie, is a species of cowry, a large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Pustularia</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Pustularia is a small genus of medium-sized sea snails or cowries, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Pustulariinae of the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Cypraea pantherina</i> Species of gastropod

Cypraea pantherina, common name the panther cowry, is a species of large tropical sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Leporicypraea</i> Genus of gastropods

Leporicypraea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Talostolida teres</i> Species of gastropod

Talostolida teres, common name the tapering cowry, 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>Naria helvola</i> Species of gastropod

Naria helvola, common name: the honey cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

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

Mauritia histrio, common name the harlequin cowry or the stage cowry, 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>Talparia talpa</i> Species of gastropod

Talparia talpa, common name the mole cowry or chocolate banded cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Trona stercoraria</i> Species of gastropod

Trona stercoraria, common name the rat cowry or droppings cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Palmadusta humphreyii</i> Species of gastropod

Palmadusta humphreyii, common name : Humphrey's cowrie, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Contradusta pulchella</i> Species of gastropod

Contradusta pulchella, common name the pretty cowry or beautiful (little) cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

<i>Eclogavena quadrimaculata</i> Species of gastropod

Eclogavena quadrimaculata, the four-spotted cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

References

  1. 1 2 ONIS Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database. retrieved 13 September 2010
  2. ↑ Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata (in Latin). Holmiae. (Laurentii Salvii).
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Poutiers, J. M. (1998).Gastropods in: FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes: The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific Volume 1. Seaweeds, corals, bivalves and gastropods [ permanent dead link ]. Rome, FAO, 1998. page 492.
  4. ↑ Lorenz, F.; Hubert, A. (2000). A Guide to Worldwide Cowries (2nd ed.). Hackenheim: CochBooks. ISBN   3-925919-25-2.
  5. ↑ Soriano, J. L. (2006). "Consideraciones taxonómicas sobre la familia Cypraeidae Rafinesque, 1815 (Mollusca: Caenogastropoda), con una nueva propuesta de clasificación supragenérica" (PDF). Spira (in Spanish). Associación Catalana de Malacologia. 2 (1): 41–62.
  6. ↑ WoRMS : Leporicypraea mappa; accessed 19 October 2010]
  7. 1 2 Chicago Natural History Museum Bulletin. Vol. 28, no. 4, April 1957. Page 3.
  8. ↑ Lorenz, Felix (2002). "Revision of the mappas" . Retrieved 25 September 2009.

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