Neobernaya spadicea

Cypraea spadicea
A live Cypraea spadicea, in situ, mantle partly extended, head end to the right
An apertural view of a shell of the species, anterior end to the left
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Caenogastropoda

clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Littorinimorpha

Superfamily: Cypraeoidea
Family: Cypraeidae
Genus: Neobernaya
Species: N. spadicea
Binomial name
Neobernaya spadicea
(Swainson, 1823)
Ventral view of live specimen of Neobernaya spadicea crawling on aquarium glass, anterior end to the bottom
Dorsal view of a shell of Neobernaya spadicea, anterior end to the top

Neobernaya spadicea, previously known as Cypraea spadicea, whose common name the chestnut cowry, is a species of temperate sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

Distribution

This species resides in temperate waters, chiefly, the Eastern Pacific Ocean. It is relatively common in Southern California, particularly around the Channel Islands. It can also be found in Monterey, California, through Southern California, and south to Cedros Island, in Baja California, Mexico. It is an uncommon sight north of Santa Barbara, California.

Shell description

The adult shell of this species ranges in size from 40 to 65 mm. The name "chestnut cowry" comes from a large patch of a rich chestnut brown on the dorsum of the shell, ringed with a darker brown, against a white background.

Habitat

This species lives on exposed rocky shores in the very low intertidal and subtidal zones. It is found on overhanging rock ledges and on other somewhat sheltered rock surfaces.

References

    External links

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