A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Cypraea tigris
This cowrie has its mantle partial extended so one can enjoy both the beautiful shell and the creature inside.
Coral Reef. Saw this on a night dive at Arthur's Rock.
Spotted on Apr 24, 2015
Submitted on May 12, 2015
4 Comments
Thank you, SukanyaDatta, for sharing as well.
Oh WOW!!! We used cowrie shells as money once upon a time in India...and mother's whose kids died would "sell" (in name only) their kids to a friend/relative for a few cowries and re-name the child Ek-kori (One cowrie), Du-kori (Two-cowries) to confuse the God of Death. We still use cowries in jewelry and wall hangings and embellishment on dresses...but I have never seen a live cowrie. THANK YOU.
Thanks Leuba.
The mantle is beautiful and the soft spiky outgrowths are interesting.
Specially fond of these as I used to collect small cowrie shells as a child growing up in India. Its always great to see photos of a live one with the mantle flipped back. Lovely spotting. Thanks.