Cypraea fimbriata Gmelin, 1791
Description: Teeth coarse and short. Base white, unspotted; sides with dark brown spots; dorsal surface brown or grey with small brown speckles, crossed by a brown band which is frequently divided. A pair of chocolate-brown to slate coloured spots occurs on each end.
Size: Up to 21 mm in length, commonly about 12 mm.
Habitat: Subtidal to about 36 m. Common in the tropics but rare in NSW.
Distribution: Tropical Indo-West Pacific, from east Africa to the central Pacific Ocean, including northern Australia. In Australia, known from Cape Naturaliste, WA, to Narooma, NSW.
Comparison: Cypraea fimbriata is one of a group of six very similar tropical species, which may all be encountered in northern NSW, but not in the south of the state. Readers should consult Burgess' "Cowries of the World" for a full discussion of the differences between members of this group.
Figs. 1,2: Long Reef, Collaroy, NSW (C.085936)
Copyright Des Beechey 2000