Tapering cowry

Appearance

The shells of these quite common cowries reach on average 25–32 millimetres of length, with a minimum size of 8 millimetres and a maximum size of 44 millimetres . They are very variable in pattern and colour. The shape may be cylindrical or sub-cylindrical. The dorsum surface is smooth and shiny, the basic color is whitish, greenish or pale brown, with irregular dark brown patches, sometimes forming two-three transversal bands. The surface may also be completely grey-greenish. The margins are white or pale brown, with some dark dots and a pronounced labial 'callus'. The base is white or pinkish with fine short teeth. In the living cowries mantle is orange-reddish, with white sensorial papillae. Mantle and foot are well developed, with external antennae.

Naming

Recognized subspecies within this species are:
⤷  ''Talostolida teres alveolus'' ; ''Cribraria teres alveolus'' Tapparone-Canefri, 1882; ''Cypraea teres alveolus'' Tapperone-Canefri)
⤷  ''Talostolida teres elatensis''
⤷  ''Talostolida teres janae''
⤷  ''Talostolida teres natalensis''
⤷  ''Talostolida teres teres'' ; ''Cypraea teres teres'' Gmelin, 1791)

Distribution

This species and the subspecies occur widely in the Red Sea, in the Indian Ocean off East Africa and South Africa and in Western and Eastern Pacific Ocean along Western Australia, Philippines and Hawaii. The subspecies ''Blasicrura teres pellucens'' reach Galapagos and Panama.

Habitat

These cowries live on rocks or under corals in the intertidal zone.