Shells 2: The Minstrel Cowrie - Cypraea histrio

On Tuesday the 18th of November I posted on the mollusc Trochus virgatus and now, having not been to the island for a couple of weeks, seems to be an appropriate time to continue that theme.

During November we had some good high tides and wave action that served to wash up quite a few dead shells from the surrounding reef flats. At the same time I found the T. virgatus I also found a good specimen of the Minstrel cowrie (Cypraea histrio). The pictures below show the specimen of this beautiful species of sea snail and can be enlarged simply by clicking on them.

Jarrett (2000) states that C. histrio is very common in Seychelles where it occurs in shallow waters and rarely deeper than 3 metres.

Ref: Jarrett, A.G. (2000). Marine Shells of the Seychelles. Carole Green Publishing, UK.