|
The Money Cowry (Cypraea moneta) is a tropical cowry species that is known to belong to the family Cypraeidae. This species is a well known money cowry which was used for currency in some parts of Africa, Asia and Oceania. It is known to occur through the Indian and Pacific Oceans and its range extends from East Africa to Central America. It is also found in the warm waters of northern Australia from the Abrolhos Islands in Western Australia around the north to Shellharbour in New South Wales. This species can be recognised by its black coloured mantle with white spots. The shell is coloured yellow to white and some individuals may have a yellow ring circling the dorsum. This species is rather common in amongst seagrass meadows and shallow coral reefs in the tropics. The Money Cowry (Cypraea moneta) grows to a maximum length of approximately 4.5cm.
|
