| Dark-toothed cowrie | |
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| Species: | C. fuscodentata |
| Binomial name | |
| Cypraeovula fuscodentata (Gray, 1825) | |
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Cypraeovula fuscodentata (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]
Two subspecies have been recognized : [1]
Cypraeovula fuscodentata 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. [3]
The dark-toothed cowrie has a medium-sized shell which may grow to 60mm in total length. The shell is generally smooth and caramel-coloured, flecked with pale blue or mauve, but in live specimens is usually covered with the mantle. [4] Variations in shell colour range from pale blue or mauve to dark chocolate brown. The dorsum may be covered by dense transverse rows of yellowish dashes, and may be transversely faceted. The shell shape may vary between relatively elongated, to quite globular or pear-shaped. [5]
The shell's undersides, which are not visible in living animals, are strongly ribbed. The ribs are toffee-coloured. [4] The labrum is broad and robust, with 15 to 19 pigmented denticles. The aperture is narrow and may be constricted towards the rear. [5]
The mantle coloration is highly variable but is usually tawny and spotted with black. [4] Color variations run from black to milky white and light to dark orange to pink and brownish red. [5] The mantle may also have randomly scattered white spots and simple papillae and has a fine granular texture. The siphon is short and slightly recurved, usually the same colour as the mantle, but with a white band round the tip. The cephalic tentacles are slender and taper towards the tips. They are yellow to light orange in colour. The foot is fleshy and muscular and usually similar in colour to the mantle [5]
This animal is never common, but where found, is usually associated with black sponges. [5]
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.
Cribrarula esontropia is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Talostolida pellucens is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Cypraeovula capensis, common name the Cape cowrie, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Cribrarula gaskoini is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Cypraeovula algoensis is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Cypraeovula colligata is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Erronea caurica, common name the thick-edged cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
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.
Austrasiatica deforgesi is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Palmadusta johnsonorum is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Cypraeovula is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Pustulariinae of the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Cypraeovula alfredensis is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
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.
Contradusta bregeriana is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Cypraeovula connelli is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Cypraeovula coronata is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Palmadusta lutea is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Raybaudia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Zonaria petitiana is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
