Cypraea

Cypraea is a genus of marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. It is the type genus of the family, from which the common name cowries is derived. The shells are typically smooth and glossy with a dorsally flattened, oval shape and a long, narrow aperture flanked by ridged teeth. Color patterns on the dorsum are varied, often highly elaborate, and can include spots, bands, and mottling. The animal's mantle is extended to cover the shell when exposed, contributing to the shell's glossy appearance.

Cypraea species occur in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide, most often on coral reefs, rocky shores, and seagrass beds, from intertidal zones to shallow subtidal depths. They are mostly nocturnal and retreat into crevices by day. Diets vary but generally include algae and encrusting organisms such as sponges or coral polyps.

Taxonomy: The genus Cypraea historically included many cowries, but taxonomic revisions have moved numerous species to other genera within Cypraeidae (for example Monetaria, Notocypraea, Lyncina, Zoila). As a result, only a subset of species remains in Cypraea. The name Cypraea remains as the type genus of the family.

Human use: Cowries, including some Cypraea species, have long been collected for their striking shells and used as currency and ornament, notably the Money Cowry, Monetaria moneta, which was widely used as a medium of exchange in the Indian Ocean and parts of Africa.