May 7, 2014
Allied cowry duo | ©Luko Gecko (L’Etang Salé Reunion island)
Calpurnus verrucosus (Gastropoda - Littorinimorpha - Ovulidae) is a species of cowry commonly known with names such as Little Egg Cowry, Warty Egg Cowry or Umbilical Egg Shell.
It is a sea snail with ovate shell, up to 4 cm, white with pink-tinged canals. However, the animal inside has a beautiful mottled mantle which may extend to cover the entire shell as shown in the picture.
Calpurnus verrucosus inhabits shallow to deep waters on soft corals and sponges. This species occurs in the Indo-Pacific.
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