The Cypraeidae Family includes 280 species comprising 9 subfamilies (Erosariinae (10 genus), Erroneinae (3), Cypraeovulinae (3), Zonariinae (2), Zoilinae (2), Luriinae (2), ...) and 61 genus (Naria (27 species), Cribrarula (22), Bistolida (20), Erronea (19), Cypraeovula (17), Zoila (14), ...)
Phylum : Mollusca
Class : ⤷Gastropoda
Subclass : ⤷Caenogastropoda
Order : ⤷Littorinimorpha
Superfamily : ⤷Cypraeoidea
Family : ⤷Cypraeidae
Common name : cowries
Aspect : oval with a smooth, glossy surface; size range from few millimeters to 12 cm ( e.g., Cypraea tigris); the spire is usually concealed or very short, covered by later shell growth, resulting in a smooth, rounded dorsal surface; narrow aperture, elongated slit on the underside with fine teeth on the inner and outer lips, giving a serrated appearance; vibrant and varied colors, with intricate patterns of spots, bands, or lines in colors like white, cream, yellow, orange, brown, or black
Feeding : herbivorous or omnivorous, with some species showing predatory or scavenging behavior (algae, sponges, detritus scraped from rocks or coral substrates or small invertebrates)
Environment : tropical and subtropical marine environments, with a global distribution in warm waters, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, where diversity is highest; in coral reefs, rocky shores, and sandy or rubble bottoms, often hiding under rocks, in crevices, or among coral; depth range from the intertidal zone down to 100 m
