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Molluscs of Zihuatanejo

PHYLUM MOLLUSCA

Little Arabian Cowrie

Pseudozonaria arabicula

The Little Arabian Cowrie (Pseudozonaria arabicula) is a small, beautifully polished sea snail in the family Cypraeidae, native to the tropical eastern Pacific, ranging from the Gulf of California to Peru and the Galápagos Islands. Its smooth, glossy shell is typically oval and domed, displaying shades of light brown to chestnut with faint darker speckles or bands, and a pale or white base marked by a narrow, toothed aperture. Living individuals have a soft, often patterned mantle that can cover the shell completely, helping to keep its surface clean and shiny. This cowrie inhabits rocky reefs and shallow subtidal zones, where it hides in crevices or under rocks during the day and becomes active at night, feeding mainly on algae and encrusting organisms.

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