
CYPRAEA - MED-SMALL: 1" - 2"
A special selection of smaller sized cowries. Somo common, as well as less common, and from all corners of the globe. A delightful selection with some of my personal favorites. Enjoy!

Cypraea albuginosa
Gray, J.E., 1825
21.5mm. Buenaventura, Colombia.
UNCOMMON - Pictured here when fresh, with absolutely stunning colors. This came in a pile of dead shells and definitely stood out.

Cypraea hungerfordi
Sowerby, G.B. III, 1888
38mm. East China Sea.
COMMON - Pictured here is a very fresh specimen; with a vibrant orange-red colored base. Unfortunately this color fades quickly.

Cypraea moneta
Linnaeus, 1758
30mm. Samar, Philippines.
COMMON - This shell is so common that one almost forgets how beautiful it is. Indeed the bright lemmon yellow makes it stand out.
Cypraea cribraria
Linnaeus, 1758
39.2mm. Olango Is. Cebu, Philippines
COMMON - The the red-brown reticle, with clean "lacunae", over pure white or grey, put it among the most stunningly patterned shells.


Cypraea l. oceanica
Schilder, 1930
36.2mm. Ascension Island.
RARE - A most beautiful endemic subspecies of C. lurida: dwarf, with blue bands, and very well defined and pronounced margin.

Cypraea p. scarabeus
Bory de St Vincent, 1827
24.5mm. Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii.
UNCOMMON - Large and dark, with sharp dorsal pattern. This kind of looks between C. albuginosa and C, poraria; quite stunning.

Cypraea granulata
Pease, W.H., 1862
31.2mm. Oahu, Hawaii.
UNCOMMON - A very attractive Hawaiian endemic, with its voluptuous textures, that make it a truly outstanding cowrie.

Cypraea m. geographica
Schilder & Schilder, 1933
43.1mm. Malaysia.
UNCOMMON - Rounded, with orange teeth and well spotted margins like regular mappa g. But his specimen is a cute dwarf.

cypraea stolida
Linnaeus, 1758
34.6mm. Bohol Is. Philippines.
UNCOMMON - This is a very popular shell. Pictured here is a very large and colorful specimen, with an average pattern.

Cypraea h. bellatrix
Gmelin, 1791
24mm. Nuku Hiva, Marquesas
UNCOMMON - This is a recently named form of C. helvola. It has a bright red base and very well defined, yet small dorsal spotting.

Cypraea marginalis
Dillwyn, 1827
29mm. Merka, Somalia.
UNCOMMON - A fantastically colored little shell: It has a dark lilac base, caramel dorsum with turquoise dots and blue lacunae.

Cypraea tessellata
Swainson, W.A., 1822
36.1mm. SW Oahu, Hawaii.
RARE - A beautiful and very sought-after shell; becoming rarer every day. The pictured shell is considered large for today´s standards.