General Description

Shell a rounded "egg" shape, orange-brown with two faint darker wide stripes around the middle and dark spots around the edge. Aperture elongated, running almost the whole length of the shell with obvious "teeth" visible in empty shells. Shell up to 3 cm long.

Biology

Brown Cowries maintain a shiny shell by usually covering it with live tissue (mantle). A few small types of cowries live in southern Australian waters, but there is confusion as to how many species this represents. Female cowries lay a mat of eggs, which she will remain on top of until they hatch. This species is found living on sponges.

Distribution

Southern Australia.

Habitat

Intertidal areas and under rocks on reefs, to depths greater than 15 m.

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