COWRYS

COWRY SHELLS TOP QUALITY, WIDE SELECTION, COMPETITIVE PRICING

Arabic Cowrie





• The shell outline is oblong or nearly elliptical. The spire is barely distinguishable dorsally. As is the case in other Cypraeidae, the aperture of the shell is very narrow, and relatively long. Both the inner and outer lips are ornamented with arrays of small teeth. The dorsal side of the shell is convex or bent, and never depressed. The dorsal mantle groove (the line or area where the two mantle flaps meet when they are fully extended) is dissimilar to the shells general color pattern, and thus easily perceivable. The lateral margins are calloused, mainly towards both the posterior and anterior ends. The ventral side of the shell is typically flattened, and sometimes slightly concave.






• As is also the case in the shell of most other Cypraeidae snails, the shell surface is notably effulgent (shiny), as if it had been deliberately polished. The color is generally cream to light fawn dorsally, with shades of brown. The ventral side of the shell is colored cream to grey. The labral teeth are reddish brown and white towards the columella. The common name arabian cowry is based on a dense and irregular pattern of thin longitudinal brown lines which are sometimes interrupted by empty spaces, giving an appearance that is considered to be similar to that of Arabic script. Cypraea arabica is distributed widespread in the Indo-West Pacific. This sea snail dwells under boulder and stones, and also shelters in caverns of the outskirts of coral reefs. It lives in low intertidal zones to shallow sublittoral depths. Cypraea arabica is mainly active during the nocturnal period.






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• One Arabic Cowrie shell 1 1/2 plus inches..... .16

TIGER COWRY SHELL



• Description. scientific name is Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, Family is Cypraeidae. It is a large heavy shell with a flat or concave base. The teeth on outer lip are broad and short, while the opposite teeth are thin and longer. The exception are the four lowest teeth, which are larger and shorter. The color pattern is set against a white background color, occurring in two layers. The underlying layer is bluish gray, the upper layer is reddish to dark brown. These patterns on both layers have numerous spots and blobs. The spots of the upper layer often is surrounded by a yellowish orange color. There have been on rare occasions an all black shell discovered. These shells are gastropods (mollusk that creates a single shell)and are fairly common in the Indo-Pacific region. These species are nocturnal. Hidden in the coral reefs during the day and out feeding at night primarily on algae.







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• One Tiger Cowries shell 2 plus inches..... .70









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• One Tiger Cowrie shell 3 plus inches..... $2.10







EGG COWRY SHELLS





• The Egg Cowrie is a Gastropod. The term gastropod means stomach footed, a mollusk with a head bearing tentacles and eyes and a foot; a one piece shell. These are egg-shaped shells that are larger than many true cowries. The shell is smooth and shiny. It's thickened outer lip has a puckered inner edge and is unevenly toothed. They are always white on outside; with a chocolate-brown aperture. Historically, egg cowries have been popular for personal adornment; ancient South Pacific mariners often used these shells to decorate canoes.




• Habitat. Egg Cowries prefer spongy soft bodied coral; abundantly found from the East African coast to Southern Japan and south the to Northern shores of Australia and New Zealand.







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• One Egg Cowry Shell 2 plus inches...... .80









TIGER COWRY PURPLE TOP




• Cypraea Tigris - commonly know as the Tiger Cowry. It feeds on polyps on coral reefs. It is most commonly found under the coral rocks in the Indo-Pacific region and also around the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The exterior of the shell is smooth and polished because of the covering that the animal has, called a mantle, that wraps around the entire shell. Some cultures see cowry shells as a symbol of fertility and are often offered to a bride as a gift to ensure fertility. The outer shell is brown and black spotted, similar to a tiger, but the purple resides in a lower layer. To reach the purple of the shell, they are dipped into an acidic formula. Tiger cowries are also used in carvings like cameos due to this uniform color under the patterned shell.





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• One purple Top Cowry 3 inches...... $1.29





TIGER COWRIE SHELL PURPLE TOP




• Cypraea Tigris - commonly called the Tiger Cowry.






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• One Purple Top Tiger Cowrie shell 1 inch or less...... .17






SMALL PURPLE TOP COWRIE








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• One Small Purple Top Cowrie shell 1/2 inch or less...... .10








DEER COWRIE



• Description The Deer Cowry is a solid, ovate or elliptical shell with a slightly covex base, that has a little bumpy margin. Its teeth are not long but thick. The Deer Cowry shell is mostly found in the Tropical Indo-Pacific region. An area stretching from the Eastern African coast East to Northern Australian/New Zealand shore. Deer Cowries like to Hyde by day under coral slabs and become active at night feeding on algae. The color of the shell is creamy brown, with wide bands of darker brown, overlaid with porcelain like spots. Its margin has faded stripes and the teeth and base are white with a hint of beige.





• Scientific nameCypraea Ventellus (Linnaeus)







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• One Deer Cowry Shells 1 plus inches...... .14



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WART COWRIE SHELL




• Description. The Wart Cowrie Shell is found in the Indo-Pacific Tropical region; primarily around the Indonesian Islands, near and around reefs. They are popular for craft use, tank decorating and with collectors. The shell is a creamy white with purple highlights around each shell end. Like other cowry shells, this species prefers a nocturnal (active at night)life.





• Listing Picture. The picture shows the creamy white body of the Wart Cowrie and its purple tinted ends.








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• One Wart Cowries Shell 1 inch or less...... .26





LYNX COWRIE SHELL





• The Lynx Cowrie is light colored with brown spots. It has a flat base, coarse strong apertural teeth with orange coloration between. They are found in the Indo-west Pacific region through northern Australia. The Lynx Cowrie is commonly found in intertidal and shallow-sub tidal areas, under rocks or coral.







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• One Lynx Cowry shell 1 1/2 or less inches...... .13







SNAKE HEAD COWRY SNAIL



• Description. Scientific name: Cypraea Caputserpentis.
  
  
  
  Distribution. Indo-Pacific from eastern African Coast to and including the Hawaii coasts. The Hawaii name is leho-kupa. It is the most common species in the Hawaiian island chain. The Snake Head Cowrie, like other of its species prefers the nocturnal life. It is commonly found under loose rock or along shorelines and seawall cracks. Some have been found feeding on algae or seaweed using its file-like radula. The Snake Head is rarely found in water deeper than 10 feet
  
  
  
  The Snake Head Cowrie is oval shaped, with a raised central area. Its top is brown, with spots of white. A white line or mantle line runs from front to back along the shell top. The base of the shell is dark brown. The shell is covered by a shiney mantpictule. The mantle is olive brown with irregular spots or flecks of yellow, green, or white and is covered with frilly, branched extensions called papillae.
  
  
  
  Cowries, like most other snails, have: a well-developed head with eyes and tentacles and a mouth; a broad muscular foot for crawling; and a soft body mass (containing the internal organs) which is protected by their shell.






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• One Snake Head Cowrie shell to 1 inch or less...... .20






RING TOP COWRIE SHELLS




• Description. Ring top Cowries are common in the Indo-Pacific region. Ringtops are unique with their markings and like other cowry shells have been used for thousands of years by islanders for various type of decorations and rituals.







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• One Ring top Cowry shell 3/4 inch or less...... .03





MONEY COWRY




• Description. Scientific name is Cyprea Moneta. They are found in moderately shallow water. The Money Cowrie is a triangular shaped, back is bumpy with thick margins. This cowry shell color ranges from white to deep yellow. The Money Cowry is common across the Indo-Pacific region. This region ranges from the East African Coast east to the Northern Austrailian/New Zealand coasts. The Cyprea Moneta got its name, when tons of shells were shipped to Africa and used as currency. They are still used in parts of Africa. 100 shells are equal to an English penny.






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• One Money Cowry Shell 3/4 inch or less...... .04






WHITE COWRIE




• The White Cowrie is common in the Indo-Pacific region. It is a shallow water species found among reef and rocky shores.






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• One White Cowries 1 inch or less...... .13