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You are here:   animal list > Cypraea annulus

 

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Cypraea annulus Linnaeus, 1758

Gold Ring Cowry


Lauren Hughes (2011)

 

Fact Sheet

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Overview

Brief Summary


Physical Description

Shape & Size


Identification Resources


Ecology

Local Distribution & Habitats


Biogeographical Distribution


Crypsis & Defense


Life History & Behaviour

Growth & Development


Feeding


Locomotion


Sensory Systems & Behaviour


Reproduction


Evolution & Systematics

Systematics / Phylogenetics


Morphology and Physiology

External Morphology


Internal Anatomy


Conservation

Trends & Threats


Wikipedia


References & More Information

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Biodiversity Heritage Library


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Names & Taxonomy

Synonyms & Names

Brief Summary

Cypraea annulus, the gold ring cowry, is a marine gastropod in the Cowry family, Cypraeidae. This species is usually 1.5-2cm in length and has a distinctive gold dorsal band on the glossy, cream shell. C. annulus is nocturnal and emerges to graze on plants and algae at night with it's mottled, brown mantle fully extended over it's shell. The gold ring cowry is common throughout it's range in the West Indo-Pacific and can be found in shallow intertidal zones, hidden under coral or rock boulders and amongst seagrass. Until late last century, this species was used with Cypraea moneta as currency in many countries.


Cypraea annulus with mantle partly extended

Classification

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