Mauritia arabica

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Mauritia arabica
Arabian Cowry2.jpg
A photo of a live individual of Mauritia arabica in situ , anterior end forward
Mauritia arabica 01.JPG
Five views of a shell of Mauritia arabica
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Cypraeidae
Genus: Mauritia
Species:
M. arabica
Binomial name
Mauritia arabica
Synonyms
List

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. [1]

Contents

Subspecies

The following subspecies are recognized: [1]

Shell description

The maximum shell length of this species is 105 mm, but more commonly in only reaches 80 mm. [2]

The shell outline is oblong or nearly elliptical. The spire is barely distinguishable dorsally. As is the case in 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. The dorsal side of the shell is convex or bent, and never depressed. [2] The dorsal mantle groove (the line or area where the two mantle flaps meet when they are fully extended) is dissimilar to the shells general color pattern, and thus easily perceivable. The lateral margins are calloused, mainly towards both the posterior and anterior ends. [2] The ventral side of the shell is typically flattened, and sometimes slightly concave.

As is also the case in the shell of most other Cypraeidae snails, the shell surface is notably effulgent (shiny), as if it had been deliberately polished. The color is generally cream to light fawn dorsally, with shades of brown. [2] The ventral side of the shell is colored cream to grey. The labral teeth are reddish brown and white towards the columella. [2] The common name Arabian cowry is based on a dense and irregular pattern of thin longitudinal brown lines which are sometimes interrupted by empty spaces, giving an appearance that is considered to be similar to that of Arabic script.

Mauritia arabica and its close relative Mauritia eglantina have very similar shells which can be easily confused. M. eglantina has a dark blotch or spot near the spire (M. arabica lacks this blotch) and generally has a narrower outline and more elongate-cylindrical shell form. [3]

Distribution

Mauritia arabica is distributed widespread in the Indo-West Pacific, from East and South Africa (including Madagascar, but not the Red Sea nor the Persian Gulf), to the eastern Polynesia. It spreads north to Japan and south to New South Wales, Australia. [2]

Habitat

This sea snail dwells under boulder and stones, and also shelters in caverns of the outskirts of coral reefs. [2] It lives in low intertidal zones to shallow sublittoral depths. Mauritia arabica is mainly active during the nocturnal period. [2]

Human uses

Mauritia arabica is collected for food by locals in many areas. The shell is commonly used in shellcraft. [2]

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>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>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>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>Arestorides argus</i> Species of gastropod

Arestorides argus, commonly called the eyed cowrie, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

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

Mauritia eglantina, the 'dog-rose cowry' or 'eglantine cowry', is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

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

Bistolida kieneri, common name : Kiener's cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

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

Mauritia maculifera, common name : the blotched cowry or reticulated 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 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>Mauritia grayana</i> Species of gastropod

Mauritia grayana, the 'Gray's arabica 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>Mauritia scurra</i> Species of gastropod

Mauritia scurra, common name the jester 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>Mauritia</i> (gastropod) Genus of gastropods

Mauritia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. These shelled molluscs are generally exclusive on the island of Mauritius, hence their name Mauritia.

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

Erronea ovum, common name the egg 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 WoRMS : Mauritia arabica; accessed : 10 October 2010
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Poutiers, J. M. (1998). Gastropods in: FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes: The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific Volume 1. [ permanent dead link ] Seaweeds, corals, bivalves and gastropods. Rome, FAO, 1998. page 491.
  3. ↑ "Mauritia eglantina" . Kwajalein Underwater. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
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