Cypraeidae
Encyclopedia
Cypraeidae, common name
the cowries (singular: cowry
), is a taxonomic family
of small to large sea snail
s. These are marine
gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Cypraeoidea
, the cowries and cowry allies.
. In virtually all of the species in the family Cypraeidae, the shells are extremely smooth and shiny. This is because in the living animal, the shell is nearly always fully covered with the mantle
.
Typically, no spire
is visible in the fully adult shell, and there is a long, narrow, aperture
which is lined with "teeth."
Juvenile cowry shells are not at all similar to adult cowry shells. The juvenile shells of cowries perhaps more closely resemble the shells of some "bubble snails" in the order Cephalaspidea
. Also the shells of juvenile cowries seldom exhibit the same color patterns as the adult shells do, and thus can be hard to identify to species.
Cowries have no operculum
.
, Cypraea, but in 2002 the cowries were divided into many different genera.
, to the superfamily Cypraeoidea
. This, in turn, is part of the clade
Littorinimorpha which belongs within the clade Hypsogastropoda according to the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005)
.
The following six subfamilies have been recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005)
but are treated as alternate representation of Cypraeidae in the World Register of Marine Species
:
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
the cowries (singular: cowry
Cowry
Cowry, also sometimes spelled cowrie, plural cowries, is the common name for a group of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries...
), is a taxonomic family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
of small to large sea snail
Snail
Snail is a common name applied to most of the members of the molluscan class Gastropoda that have coiled shells in the adult stage. When the word is used in its most general sense, it includes sea snails, land snails and freshwater snails. The word snail without any qualifier is however more often...
s. These are marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Cypraeoidea
Cypraeoidea
Cypraeoidea, the cowries and cowry allies, is a superfamily of sea snails, marine gastropods included in the clade Littorinimorpha. This superfamily was previously called Cypraeacea and was named by Rafinesque in 1815.-Shell description:...
, the cowries and cowry allies.
Shell description
Cypraeidae have adult shells which are very rounded, almost like an egg; they do not look like a typical gastropod shellGastropod shell
The gastropod shell is a shell which is part of the body of a gastropod or snail, one kind of mollusc. The gastropod shell is an external skeleton or exoskeleton, which serves not only for muscle attachment, but also for protection from predators and from mechanical damage...
. In virtually all of the species in the family Cypraeidae, the shells are extremely smooth and shiny. This is because in the living animal, the shell is nearly always fully covered with the mantle
Mantle (mollusc)
The mantle is a significant part of the anatomy of molluscs: it is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass and usually protrudes in the form of flaps well beyond the visceral mass itself.In many, but by no means all, species of molluscs, the epidermis of the mantle secretes...
.
Typically, no spire
Spire (mollusc)
A spire is a descriptive term for part of the coiled shell of mollusks. The word is a convenient aid in describing shells, but it does not refer to a very precise part of shell anatomy: the spire consists of all of the whorls except for the body whorl...
is visible in the fully adult shell, and there is a long, narrow, aperture
Aperture (mollusc)
The aperture is an opening in certain kinds of mollusc shells: it is the main opening of the shell, where part of the body of the animal emerges for locomotion, feeding, etc....
which is lined with "teeth."
Juvenile cowry shells are not at all similar to adult cowry shells. The juvenile shells of cowries perhaps more closely resemble the shells of some "bubble snails" in the order Cephalaspidea
Cephalaspidea
The suborder Cephalaspidea, also known as the headshield slugs and bubble snails, is a clade of sea slugs and bubble snails, marine gastropod mollusks within the larger clade Euopisthobranchia....
. Also the shells of juvenile cowries seldom exhibit the same color patterns as the adult shells do, and thus can be hard to identify to species.
Cowries have no operculum
Operculum (gastropod)
The operculum, meaning little lid, is a corneous or calcareous anatomical structure which exists in many groups of sea snails and freshwater snails, and also in a few groups of land snails...
.
Predators
The very narrow toothed aperture of the cowry shell makes the adult shells difficult for many predators to reach into. However cowries are still vulnerable to predation:- Some tropical crustaceans can break the dorsum of a cowry shell.
- Some mollusc-eating cones like Conus textileConus textileConus textile, common name the cloth of gold cone is a venomous species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails, cone shells or cones. The species is extremely dangerous to humans.-Distribution:C...
can inject venomVenomVenom is the general term referring to any variety of toxins used by certain types of animals that inject it into their victims by the means of a bite or a sting...
into the cowry's flesh. The cone then extends its stomach into the shell, through the slit, to completely ingest the flesh.
- Some octopusOctopusThe octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda. Octopuses have two eyes and four pairs of arms, and like other cephalopods they are bilaterally symmetric. An octopus has a hard beak, with its mouth at the center point of the arms...
es can gouge a small hole (using a special barb/tooth and an acidic secretion) through the shell to inject a venom that kills the animal within.
Taxonomy
For nearly 200 years, every species in the family Cypraeidae was placed in one genusGenus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, Cypraea, but in 2002 the cowries were divided into many different genera.
2005 taxonomy
The family Cypraeidae belongs, together with the family OvulidaeOvulidae
Ovulidae, common names the ovulids, cowry allies or false cowries, is a family of small to large predatory or parasitic sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the superfamily Cypraeoidea, the cowries and cowry allies.-Distribution:...
, to the superfamily Cypraeoidea
Cypraeoidea
Cypraeoidea, the cowries and cowry allies, is a superfamily of sea snails, marine gastropods included in the clade Littorinimorpha. This superfamily was previously called Cypraeacea and was named by Rafinesque in 1815.-Shell description:...
. This, in turn, is part of the clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
Littorinimorpha which belongs within the clade Hypsogastropoda according to the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005)
Taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
The taxonomy of the Gastropoda as it was revised by Philippe Bouchet and Jean-Pierre Rocroi is currently the most up-to-date overall system for classifying gastropod mollusks...
.
The following six subfamilies have been recognized in the taxonomy of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005)
Taxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)
The taxonomy of the Gastropoda as it was revised by Philippe Bouchet and Jean-Pierre Rocroi is currently the most up-to-date overall system for classifying gastropod mollusks...
but are treated as alternate representation of Cypraeidae in the World Register of Marine Species
World Register of Marine Species
The World Register of Marine Species is a database that hopes to provide an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms. The content of the registry is edited and maintained by scientific specialists on each group of organism. These taxonomists control the quality of the...
:
- Cypraeinae Rafinesque, 1815
- tribe Cypraeini Rafinesque, 1815 - synonym: Porcellanidae Roberts, 1870 (inv.)
- tribe Mauritiini Steadman & Cotton, 1946
- Erosariinae Schilder, 1924 - synonyms: Cypraeacitinae Schilder, 1930 (inv.); Nariinae Schilder, 1932; Staphylaeinae iredale, 1935
- Erroneinae Schilder, 1927
- tribe Erroneini Schilder, 1927 - synonym: Adustinae Steadman & Cotton, 1946
- tribe Bistolidini C. Meyer, 2003
- Gisortiinae Schilder, 1927 - synonyms: Archicypraeinae Schilder, 1930; Bernayinae Schilder, 1927; Cpraeorbini Schilder, 1927; Mandolininae Schilder, 1932; Umbiliini Schilder 1932; Zoilinae Iredale, 1935
- Luriinae Schilder, 1932
- tribe Luriini Schilder, 1932 - synonym: Talpariinae Iredale, 1935
- tribe Austrocypraeini Iredale, 1935
- Pustulariinae Gill, 1871
- tribe Pustulariini Gill, 1871
- tribe Cypraeovulini Schilder, 1927
- tribe Zonariini Schilder, 1932
Genera
Genera within the family Cypraeidae include:- Subfamily Cypraeinae Rafinesque, 1815
- LeporicypraeaLeporicypraeaLeporicypraea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. Species within this genus are commonly found in the Indo-Pacific region.-Species:Species of Leporicypraea include:...
Iredale, 1930 - Tribe Cypraeini
- CypraeaCypraeaCypraea is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails or cowries, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Cypraea include:* Cypraea pantherina Lightfoot, 1786...
Linnaeus, 1758 - Cypraeorbis Conrad, 1865
- Siphocypraea Heilprin, 1887
- Cypraea
- Tribe Mauritiini Steadman & Cotton, 1946
- MacrocypraeaMacrocypraeaMacrocypraea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Macrocypraea include:* Macrocypraea cervinetta * Macrocypraea cervus...
- MauritiaMauritia (gastropod)Mauritia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Mauritia include: * Mauritia arabica * Mauritia depressa...
Troschel, 1863
- Macrocypraea
- Leporicypraea
- Subfamily Erosariinae Schilder, 1924 - The taxonomy of Bouchet & RocroiTaxonomy of the Gastropoda (Bouchet & Rocroi, 2005)The taxonomy of the Gastropoda as it was revised by Philippe Bouchet and Jean-Pierre Rocroi is currently the most up-to-date overall system for classifying gastropod mollusks...
does not mention any tribes in this subfamily.
-
- Nucleolaria Oyama, 1959
- Tribe Staphylaeini
- Cryptocypraea Meyer, 2003
- Perisserosa
- StaphylaeaStaphylaeaStaphylaea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Staphylaea include:* Staphylaea limacina * Staphylaea nucleus...
Jousseaume, 1884
- Tribe Erosariini
- ErosariaErosariaErosaria is a genus of sea snails, cowries, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Erosaria include:* Erosaria acicularis - the Atlantic yellow cowry...
Troschel, 1863 - MonetariaMonetariaMonetaria is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Monetaria include:* Monetaria annulus * Monetaria caputdraconis...
Troschel, 1863 - Naria Broderip, 1837
- Erosaria
- Subfamily Erroneinae Schilder, 1927
- Tribe Erroneini Schilder, 1927
- AustrasiaticaAustrasiaticaAustrasiatica is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Austrasiatica include: * Austrasiatica hirasei...
Lorenz, 1989 - BlasicruraBlasicruraBlasicrura is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Blasicrura include according to the World Register of Marine Species...
Iredale, 1930 - ContradustaContradustaContradusta is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Contradusta include: * Contradusta bregeriana * Contradusta walkeri...
Meyer, 2003 - Eclogavena
- ErroneaErroneaErronea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Erronea include: * Erronea adusta * Erronea caurica...
Troschel, 1863 - Ficadusta Habe & Kosuge 1966
- PalmulacypraeaPalmulacypraeaPalmulacypraea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries -Species:Species within the genus Austrasiatica include: * Palmulacypraea katsuae...
Meyer, 2003 - PurpuradustaPurpuradustaPurpuradusta is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Purpuradusta include: * Purpuradusta barbieri...
Schilder, 1939
- Austrasiatica
- Tribe Bistolidini C. Meyer, 2003
- BistolidaBistolidaBistolida is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Bistolida include:* Bistolida diauges * Bistolida erythraeensis...
Cossmann, 1920 - CribrarulaCribrarulaCribrarula is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Cribrarula include:* Cribrarula angelae Moretzsohn & Beals, 2009* Cribrarula cribellum...
Strand, 1929 - PalmadustaPalmadustaPalmadusta is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Palmadusta include: * Palmadusta androyensis Blocher & Lorenz, 1999* Palmadusta asellus...
Iredale, 1930
- Bistolida
- Tribe Erroneini Schilder, 1927
- Subfamily Gisortiinae Schilder, 1927
- † Afrocypraea Schilder, 1932
- Archicypraea Schilder, 1926
- BarycypraeaBarycypraeaBarycypraea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Barycypraea include:* † Barycypraea caputviperae Martin, 1899...
Schilder, 1927 - BernayaBernayaBernaya is a genus of sea snails or cowries, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Bernaya include:* Bernaya fultoni : synonym of Barycypraea fultoni...
Jousseaume, 1884 - Gisortia Jousseaume 1884
- IpsaIpsaIpsa is a genus of small or medium-sized sea snails, cowries, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries....
Jousseaume, 1884 - † Mandolina Jousseaume 1884
- NesiocypraeaNesiocypraeaNesiocypraea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Nesiocypraea include:* Nesiocypraea aenigma Lorenz, 2002...
Azuma & Kurohara, 1967 - Palaeocypraea Schilder, 1928
- Proadusta Sacco 1894
- UmbiliaUmbiliaUmbilia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Umbilia include:* Umbilia armeniaca Verco, 1912* Umbilia capricornica Lorenz, 1989...
Jousseaume, 1884 - Vicetia Fabiani 1905
- ZoilaZoilaZoila is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Zoila include:* Zoila decipiens * Zoila eludens L. Raybaudi, 1991...
Jousseaume, 1884
- Subfamily Luriinae Schilder, 1932
- Tribe Luriini Schilder, 1932
- LuriaLuria (gastropod)Luria is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Luria include:* Luria cinerea * Luria gilvella Lorenz, 2002* Luria isabella...
Jousseaume, 1884 - TalpariaTalpariaTalparia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Talparia include:* Talparia argus : synonym of Arestorides argus...
Troschel, 1863
- Luria
- Tribe Austrocypraeini Iredale, 1935
- AnneponaAnneponaAnnepona is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Annepona include:* Annepona mariae...
Iredale, 1935 - ArestoridesArestoridesArestorides is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Arestorides include:* Arestorides argus...
Iredale 1930 - Austrocypraea Cossmann, 1903
- Chelycypraea Schilder, 1927
- LyncinaLyncinaLyncina is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Lyncina include: * Lyncina argus Lyncina is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus...
Troschel, 1863 - † Miolyncina
- TronaTrona (gastropod)Trona is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Distribution:This genus is found in the Atlantic Ocean along the Cape Verde, Senegal and Angola.-References:...
Jousseaume, 1884
- Annepona
- Tribe Luriini Schilder, 1932
- Subfamily Pustulariinae Gill, 1871
- Tribe Pustulariini Gill, 1871
-
-
- PustulariaPustularia (gastropod)Pustularia is a small genus of medium-sized sea snails or cowries, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.These sea snails are found along the coast of East Africa, Australia, Hawaii, the Philippines, the Red Sea and in the Indo-Pacific region.-Species:Species within the...
Swainson, 1840
- Pustularia
- Tribe Cypraeovulini Schilder, 1927
- Chimaeria Briano, 1993
- CypraeovulaCypraeovulaCypraeovula is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species and subspecies within the genus Cypraeovula include according to the World Register of Marine Species:...
Gray, 1824 - NotadustaNotadustaNotadusta is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Notadusta include:* Notadusta boucheti Lorenz, 2002* Notadusta omii Ikeda, 1998...
Schilder, 1935 - Notocypraea Schilder, 1927
- † Notoluponia Schilder 1935
- Tribe Pseudozonariini
- Neobernaya Schilder 1927
- PseudozonariaPseudozonariaPseudozonaria is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Pseudozonaria include:* Pseudozonaria arabicula * Pseudozonaria annettae Dall, 1909...
Schilder, 1929
- Tribe Zonariini Schilder, 1932
- SchilderiaSchilderiaSchilderia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Schilderia include:* Schilderia achatidea...
Tomlin, 1930 - ZonariaZonaria (gastropod)Zonaria is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Zonaria include:* Zonaria picta * Zonaria pyrum...
Jousseaume, 1884 - † Zonarina Sacco, 1894
- Schilderia
-
- subfamily ?
- ContradustaContradustaContradusta is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Contradusta include: * Contradusta bregeriana * Contradusta walkeri...
Meyer, 2003 - MeliceronaMeliceronaMelicerona is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Melicerona include: * Melicerona felina...
Iredale, 1930 - MuracypraeaMuracypraeaMuracypraea is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Muracypraea include: * Muracypraea donmoorei * Muracypraea mus...
Woodring, 1957 - OvatipsaOvatipsaOvatipsa is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Ovatipsa include:* Ovatipsa chinensis * Ovatipsa coloba...
Iredale, 1931 - PropustulariaPropustulariaPropustularia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Propustularia include:* Propustularia surinamensis...
Schilder, 1927 - RansoniellaRansoniellaRansoniella is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.-Species:Species within the genus Ransoniella include: * Ransoniella bulbosa Dolin , 2007* Ransoniella erminea Dolin, 2007...
Dolin & Lozouet, 2005
- Contradusta