Kingdom Animalia Superfamily Cypraeoidea Genus Cribrarula Phylum Mollusca | Class Gastropoda Family Cypraeidae Scientific name Cribrarula cribraria Rank Species | |
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Similar Cribrarula, Erosaria helvola, Leporicypraea mappa, Bistolida stolida, Umbilia hesitata | ||
Cribrarula cribraria, the 'Sieve/Tan and White Cowry', is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Contents
Description
The mantle of this cowry is translucent bright orange-red. Cribrarula cribraria is one of the most recognizable cowries. The shells reach 10–35 millimetres (0.39–1.38 in) of length. These shells are smooth, their basic coloration is pale brown or fawn, with several circular white spots. The edges of the shell are white, as is the flat base.
Distribution
This species and its subspecies are distributed in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean along Aldabra, Chagos, the Comores, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, the Seychelles and Tanzania.
Habitat
This species can be encountered in intertidal and shallow waters at 5–25 metres (16–82 ft) of depth, mainly underneath coral rubble and rocks. They mostly feed at night on encrusting sponges.
Subspecies
The following subspecies are recognized :