Lexi Webster
Cowrie shells are found in several parts of the world, including the tropical and subtropical regions. They are abundant in the Indo-Pacific region, stretching from the eastern coast of Africa, including the Red Sea, to the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean, such as the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the Andaman Islands. They are also found in the Pacific Islands, including the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand. In Australia, they can be found in Queensland, Tasmania, and from northern New South Wales to northern Western Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Species | Umbilicated cowry, Wonder cowry, Egg cowrie, Deer cowrie, Ring Top cowrie, Tiger cowrie, Lynx cowrie, Arabian cowry |
| Appearance | Bright designs, Distinct patterns, Shiny, Smooth surface, Oval or egg-shaped, Glossy, White, Brown, Black spotted, Purple |
| Locations | Southern Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, Lord Howe Island, Indo-Pacific region, Indian Ocean, East Africa, Red Sea, Tropical Indo-Pacific region, New Zealand, Japan, Maldives, Indonesia, Tropical regions |
| Uses | Currency, Jewellery, Clothing accessories |
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What You'll Learn
Tasmania's largest cowry shell
Cowrie shells are a favourite of beachcombers and collectors in Australia. While there are about 1,800 species of seashells in Tasmania, the largest cowry shell found in the state is the umbilicated cowry, also known as the wonder cowry. Dr Simon Grove, the senior curator of invertebrate zoology at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, has also expressed his preference for this particular shell, nicknaming it the "'belly button cowry" due to its dimple-like shape at one end.
The umbilicated cowry is endemic to southern Australia, including Tasmania. In the northern part of its range, it is found only in deep waters. However, in the south, these shells can be found washed up on beaches as they live in shallow waters due to the cooler temperature. According to Dr Grove, the wonder cowry is one of around half a dozen species of cowry shells found in Tasmania.
The process of finding these shells is not without its challenges. Dr Grove advises that perseverance is key, as they are rarely found in abundance. Beachgoers may need to dedicate time to searching for them along the coastline. Additionally, it is important to be mindful of the rules and regulations regarding shell collection, particularly when it comes to living shells.
While the umbilicated cowry shell may be the largest cowry shell in Tasmania, the state is also home to other notable shells, such as the pearly brooch shell. These shells are widespread in Tasmanian waters but are not commonly found on beaches. The large pen shell, or razor clam, is Tasmania's largest bivalve mollusc and can also be found in the state, although it is rarely found intact.
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Tiger cowry shell
Cowrie shells are a favourite collectible for Australians of all ages. The Cypraea Tigris, commonly known as the tiger cowrie, is a species of cowry, a large sea snail and marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae. The shell is egg-shaped and spotted, and its surface is smooth and glossy.
The tiger cowrie was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, and the species still bears its original name of Cypraea Tigris. The specific epithet "tigris" relates to its common name, "tiger", despite the shell being spotted, not striped. This species is the type species of the genus Cypraea. The adult tiger cowrie is carnivorous, eating coral and various invertebrates, while juveniles consume algae.
The tiger cowrie can be found on the ocean floor in the Indo-Pacific region, from the eastern coast of Africa to the waters of Micronesia and Polynesia, the Coral Sea, and around the Philippines. In Australia, it is found from northern New South Wales to northern Western Australia, as well as Lord Howe Island. It is typically found at depths of 10 to 40 meters and is often associated with live coral colonies, such as table-forming Acropora.
The tiger cowrie shell has been valued by humans for its beauty and practical uses. In the recent past, large cowrie shells were used in Europe as a frame for stretching sock heels during darning. The smooth surface of the tiger cowrie shell made it easier to position the darning needle under the cloth. Today, tiger cowrie shells are still sought after for crafts, jewellery, and home decor. They can be purchased online and from specialty shell shops.
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Egg cowry shell
Cowry shells are usually smooth, shiny, and egg-shaped. The round side of the shell is called the dorsal face, while the flat underside is called the ventral face. The ventral face shows a long, narrow, slit-like opening, which is often toothed at the edges. The largest cowry shell in Tasmania is the umbilicated cowry, or wonder cowry. This species is only found in southern Australia, including Tasmania.
The egg cowry, also known as the common egg cowry, is a species of sea snail and a marine gastropod mollusk. The scientific name for the egg cowry is Ovula ovum. The shells of these common cowries reach an average of 65-70 millimeters in length, with a minimum size of 50 millimeters and a maximum size of 120 millimeters. The egg cowry is distributed in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean along East Africa (Aldabra, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Tanzania, Kenya, and Chagos) and in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (New Zealand, Australia, North Sulawesi, Malaysia, Borneo, New Caledonia, the Philippines, French Polynesia, and southern Japan).
Egg cowries are often mistaken for cowry shells, but they actually belong to the family Ovulidae, which are nicknamed 'false cowries' due to their resemblance to the beautifully patterned cowry seashells that were once used as currency in Africa and China. The egg cowry gets its distinctive colours and patterns from its retractable mantle, or flesh, that wraps around the exterior of its plain white shell. The surface of the egg cowry shell is smooth, shiny, and completely snow white, with a dark reddish-purple interior visible through the wide and long aperture, which bears teeth on one side only. In living cowries, the mantle is black, with a pattern of small white spots in adults, while juveniles resemble some toxic nudibranchs of the genus Phyllidia due to their orange-yellow sensorial papillae. The lateral flaps of the mantle usually hide the white surface of the shell, but the mantle is quickly retracted into the shell opening when the cowry is disturbed.
Egg cowries are masters of disguise. When egg cowries consume polyps, their mantles start to mimic their hues and colour patterns until they are practically indistinguishable from their hosts. This phenomenon is known as alimentary homochromy, and it is one of the most effective examples of camouflage seen in marine invertebrates. Not only can egg cowries adjust the colour of their mantles to perfectly match the organism they are sitting on and feeding off, but some species can also change their external shape and texture. The egg cowry species are found in the Western Pacific Ocean off the coast of Queensland and New South Wales, and off the coast of southeast Africa.
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Lynx cowry shell
Cowry shells are a favourite of beachcombers and collectors, and one of the most coveted shells to find on the beach. The largest cowry shell in Tasmania is the umbilicated cowry, or wonder cowry, which is also found in southern Australia and Tasmania. The tiger cowrie is another species found along the Australian coast, from northern New South Wales to northern Western Australia, as well as Lord Howe Island.
The lynx cowry (or eyed cowry) is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the Cypraeidae family. The shells of these cowries vary in pattern and size, ranging from 18mm to 90mm in length. The dorsum surface of these smooth and shiny shells is generally pale brown, pale purple, or grey, densely covered with small and large dark brown or purple dots. The base is white or pale brown, and the aperture is long and narrow, with several white teeth and bright reddish spacing. In living cowries, the mantle is transparent, with tree-shaped white sensorial papillae that may cover the entire shell.
The lynx cowry is found in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean along Southeast Africa (including Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Tanzania), and in the western Pacific Ocean (including Japan, Taiwan, Polynesia, the Philippines, and western and northern Australia). These cowries live in tropical shallow waters, usually under rocks or corals, and start feeding at dusk, mainly on sponges.
The collection of empty shells on the beach is generally permitted, but there are rules about collecting living shells. It is important to be mindful of the environment and only source shells ethically and responsibly.
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Arabian cowry shell
The Arabian cowry shell, also known as the Mauritia Arabica, is distributed widely in the Indo-West Pacific region. It can be found in East and South Africa, including Madagascar, but not in the Red Sea or the Persian Gulf. The shell makes its way up north to Japan and spreads south to New South Wales, Australia.
The Arabian cowry shell gets its name from the dense and irregular pattern of thin longitudinal brown lines on its surface, which are sometimes interrupted by empty spaces. This pattern is reminiscent of Arabic script. The ventral side of the shell is typically cream to grey in colour, while the labral teeth are reddish-brown and white towards the columella. The dorsal side, on the other hand, is generally cream to light fawn with shades of brown. The shell has an oblong or nearly elliptical outline, with a barely distinguishable spire.
The Arabian cowry shell is valued for its beauty and is often used in shellcraft and coastal décor. Native American tribes in the southern and northern regions of the Americas use these shells for jewellery making and regalia. In terms of size, the shells typically range from 1.5 to 2 inches in length, although larger and smaller specimens can be found.
In Australia, Tasmania is known for its abundance of cowry shells, with the umbilicated cowry or wonder cowry being the largest species found in the region. These shells can be found washed up on beaches in southern Australia, including Tasmania, as they live in shallow waters due to the cooler temperature.
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Frequently asked questions
Cowrie shells can be found in several parts of Australia, including the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Coral Sea. They are also found along the eastern coast of the country, from northern New South Wales to northern Western Australia, as well as Lord Howe Island. In Tasmania, you can find the umbilicated cowry or wonder cowry, the largest cowry shell in the state, washed up on beaches.
Yes, cowrie shells are found in various regions worldwide, including the tropical and subtropical regions of the Indo-Pacific, stretching from the eastern coast of Africa to the Pacific Islands and the coasts of the Indian Ocean. They are also present in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly from Senegal to Angola, and in the waters surrounding islands like Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic.
Cowrie shells have been valued for their natural beauty, small size, and bright designs with distinct patterns. They have a rich history, dating back thousands of years, and were once used as a medium of exchange and currency in ancient civilizations, including Africa and Asia. Even today, they hold spiritual significance and are considered a symbol of prosperity and fertility in some cultures.
