Shell

Brown shell with raised longitudinal ridges marked with thin white lines that form approximately five perpendicular bands. Shell size up to 12 cm.

This species is very easy to recognize. It has a bright orange mantle with black stripes and spots. The shell is uniformly yellowish orange and reaches a length of 15 mm.

This type of cowrie is nocturnal, so they are active only during the night. They are usually found at sand patches or below coral reefs. Their body size is up to 7.5 cm. The cover of the mantle has scattered thick hair.

This species feeds on Sarcophyton spp. and imitates it’s host perfectly where the size is up to 3.5 cm. This species has a circular depression at either and of the dorsal surface of the shell and contain orange or brown lines. The tip of both ends of the shell are purple or pink. The mantle ornamented with black or brown spots.

Found in shallow, sandy and muddy areas. They are often buried in the substrate with only the dorsum spine protruding, which makes this gastropod difficult to find. They can be seen in aggregations during mating.

It is found in shallow reef areas and sometimes even exposed during low tide. It is prone to overfishing by curio traders as it is sought after for its beautiful tiger-like pattern. It is also easily accessible to snorkelers or reef walkers. Its mantle retreats during the day when it often hides under rocks and rubble. It fully emerges only at night.

Mostly found on its food source which includes various soft coral species and sponges. Its snow-white shell is usually covered by a black mantle. Juveniles have bright yellow, orange, blue and white spotted mantles, mimicking toxic nudibranchs.

This is a small gastropod with a brightly coloured mantel which is found mostly on soft corals. Many Ovullids in the order Dendronephthya, or false cowries, acquire multicolour patterns and are found on soft corals of similar colour as their own. They can resemble a colour pattern of noxious nudibranchs as a warning sign of their own toxicity.

Allied cowries, which are found on various gorgonians and other soft corals such as sea whips or on the brightly coloured Dendronepthya sp. Posses Elongated shell of various colours and with distinctly coloured mantle mimicking the colour of its host, sometimes even acquiring false polyps of its host.