Money
cowrie
Monetaria moneta
Family Cypraeidae
updated
Sep 2019
Where
seen? This
squat cowrie was seen once at Cyrene. It is was previously known as Cypraea moneta. Called 'money cowry' because in the past, the shells were used as currency in the Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Features: 2-3cm. Shell rather irregular in shape, almost hexagonal, yellowish white with dark smudges around the humped up middle part of the shell. Underside plain white (no markings) without
coloured 'teeth'. The living animal has a translucent mantle with a pattern of fine dark bars and short translucent 'hairs'. |
Cyene Reef, Jun 19
Photo shared by Victor Toh on facebook.
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Cyene Reef, Jun 19
Photo shared by Russel Low on facebook.
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Cyene Reef, Jun 19
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Cyene Reef, Jun 19 |
Cyene Reef, Jun 19
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| Money
cowries on Singapore shores |
| Other sightings on Singapore shores |
Cyene Reef, Apr 21
Photos shared by Loh Kok Sheng on facebook.
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Foot |
Underside of shell with 'teeth'.
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Links
References
- Tan Siong
Kiat and Henrietta P. M. Woo, 2010 Preliminary
Checklist of The Molluscs of Singapore (pdf), Raffles
Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore.
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