Cowries - Cypraeidae

The cowries are a small family, but are the most collected of all seashells. Their combination of form, texture and colour have made them sought after. Most of the species of cowries occur in the tropics and sub-tropics on coral reefs. They live intertidally, hiding under coral slabs or in crevices by day, emerging at night to feed. The distinctive feature of the cowries is the animal’s mantle that covers the outside of the shell. When disturbed, the mantle is retracted into the shell revealing the shell surface kept naturally glossy by the mantle. The food source in the family is diverse; they feed on algae, sponges, dead organic matter and other molluscs.

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