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Ovum cowrie and Wandering cowrie Cypraea ovum and Cypraea errones Family Cypraeidae

Wandering cowrie

The Ovum cowrie is common on Chek Jawa under and among small rocks. It is pear-shaped. The 'teeth' on the shell opening are tinged yellow or orange. It has no brown spots at the front end of the shell.

The Ovum cowrie is often mistaken for the Wandering cowrie (Cypraea errones) which looks similar, but is more cylindrical, does not have coloured 'teeth' and has a brown spot or spots at the front end of the shell. The Wandering cowrie is commonly found under rocks elsewhere, such as at Changi. It is only sometimes found on Chek Jawa.

Ovum cowrie

quick facts
About 2cm, common under rocks

Classification:
Class Gastropoda
Phylum Mollusca

See also ...
Molluscs in general
Gastropods in general
Cowries in general

Other references

Fiene-Severns, Pauline, Mike Severns and Ruth Dyerly, 2000. Periplus Nature Guides: Tropical Seashells. Periplus Editions. 64pp.
Tan, Leo W. H. & Ng, Peter K. L., 1988. A Guide to Seashore Life. The Singapore Science Centre, Singapore. 160 pp. online version
Tan, K. S. & L. M. Chou, 2000. A Guide to the Common Seashells of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre. 160 pp.
Woodward, Fred, 1993. Identifying Shells. The Apple Press, London. 80 pp.
Harasewych, M.G., 1991 edition. Shells: Jewels from the Sea. Courage Books, USA. 224 pp.

a companion website to the chek jawa guidebook website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com

a companion website to the chek jawa guidebook
website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com