Help with ID on this Cowrie

[gloo]

Anyone able to help me ID this guy?

 

[Boomer]

That is probably a Tiger Cowrie, Cypraea tigris

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Cypraea tigris&btnG=Google+Search&sa=N&tab=wi

 

[gloo]

Ah thanks, didn't know some of them were so dark.

Also, has anyone had any issues with them eating anything besides algae?

 

[steve-s]

If it is a Tiger, they aren't all that sessile invert safe. They have an ifinity for munching anemone/anemone like animals.

Also, can you get a pic of the cowrie with it's mantle fully exposed?

Could be tigris but also arabica or eglantina.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Boomer]

No way is that a arabica or a eglantins Shell patterns are fairly consistent. However, there are at least 4-6 other species it could be besides a tigris, Cypraea caputserpentis or Cypraea pantherina are just two examples.

 

[steve-s]

I thought of pantherina as well but the consistancy of the pattern was not that good. As far as the other two, really depends on what image you get and who took it. There's a real "dog's breakfast" for reference out there.

I did happen to find this site which may help. Just haven't had the ime to look through it.
http://www.cowries.info/sale/cyp/general.html

Cheers
Steve

 

[gloo]

I'll try and take grab a pic, but looking at that site, the caputserpentis seems to be the closest match with the shell patterns.

I just got him yesterday afternoon, and only seen him with the mantle fully covering his shell at night or in the morning. He's cruising around right now, but mantle is only covering just the edges. When it was out, it looked very frilly, best described like small cauliflower jutting straight out the sides.

 

[gloo]

Got some, was on the underside of LR, so I tried illuminating from below to try to get a better pic;

 

[Boomer]

Hey Steve, we both most be blind or have our heads up our asses. It CAN'T be a Tiger either = 100 % positive. What we we smoking today :lol: Tigers are white with brown spots and his is brown with white spots. Which also means it CAN'T be Cypraea caputserpentis or Cypraea pantherina either. I can find no images of arabica or a eglantins that resemble his either



I think this is what he has. Brown Cowries with this pattern are far and few between,i.e., brown with this patter of large white spots.

ATLANTIC DEER COWRIE Cypraea cervus
Off North Carolina to Florida and Cuba. Bermuda.

I found one other exception Cypraea caputserpentis. Entire Indo-West Pacific. His looks most like this with the mantle out. Bottom image

And maybe possible a Cypraea zebra

 

[steve-s]

Deer no, but possibley Cypraea caputserpentis. I think Cypraea maculifera is close also. The "spots" are more defined and the line off center is much more pronounced.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Boomer]

Yes, Cypraea maculifera is also close. I have the most liking to the Cypraea caputserpentis and the mantle looks close. I thibk we would need it in hand or more pics to ID

 

[gloo]

I'll post better pics of the entire shell.

 

[gloo]

He has gone into hiding when I got home, and will likely stay that way for a while. If anyone is interested, Blue Sierra in Issaquah still had like 3 of them left, and only 9.99. I dont usually give in to impulse purchases ( whats with people wanting to know what your cats dream about?) but it caught my eye, and got info from Jonas and left the store with this addition.