Cypraea friendii -Gray
Friend's Cowrie
3" 42.0-106.1mm
Rare
$12 and up
Shell: This slim shell, richly mottled with brown, may show faint tinges of blue in the light cream background. Sides merge into deep brown below. Edges of the teeth show white in the aperture.
Animal: Mantle is dark brown to black and thin, it does not obsdure the dorsal pattern. Papillae are tiny, white and hairlike, the siphon appears smooth. Tentacles and sides of the foot are brown to black, along the truncated anterior edge of the foot is a yellow groove. When the probiscisis everted it may be seen that the interior is also yellow.
Region: West Australia
Habitat: Relatively shallow water (5 to 10 m) throughout the range, this species may be found exposed on sponges. They do not hide under rocks or crevices. In western Australia they may be sometimes found on sponge-covered jetty-pilings. Deep-water specimins have been trawlled on level, sponge-covered bottom to depths of 100 fathoms.
Notes: A rare and beautiful cowrie desired by collector's everywhere. The eggs are globular, orange red, and in a cluster as wide as the length of the shell.
