''Cypraeovula castanea'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
sea snail
Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...
, a
cowry, a marine
gastropod
The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda ().
This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...
mollusk
Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Subspecies
*''Cypraeovula castanea castanea''
(Higgins, 1868)
*''Cypraeovula castanea latebrosa''
Swarts & Liltved in Liltved, 2000
*''Cypraeovula castanea malani''
Lorenz & de Bruin, 2009
Description
The length of the shell attains 28.9 mm.
Distribution
This marine species occurs off the
Agulhas Bank, South Africa
References
* Steyn, D.G. & Lussi, M. (1998) ''Marine Shells of South Africa. An Illustrated Collector’s Guide to Beached Shells''. Ekogilde Publishers, Hartebeespoort, South Africa, ii + 264 pp. page(s): 60
* Higgins E.T. (1868). Description of six new species of shells. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. (1868): 178-180 , pl. 14
* Higgins E.T. (1868). Description of six new species of shells. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. (1868): 178-180 , pl. 14
External links
Higgins E.T. (1868). Description of six new species of shells. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. (1868): 178-180 , pl. 14
Cypraeidae
Gastropods described in 1868
{{Cypraeidae-stub