Gastropoda | 
Littorinimorpha | 
Cypraeidae
			
			
			
				Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range				
				
					Ecology				
				
			
			
				Benthic; depth range ? - 10 m (Ref. 126058).  Tropical			
			
			
				
			
			
			
				Indo-Pacific.
			
			
			
			
			
				Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
			
			
				Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm Max length : 10.5 cm SHL male/unsexed; (Ref. 349); common length : 8.0 cm SHL male/unsexed; (Ref. 349)			
			
			
							
				
				
					
						Shell is smooth and shiny, with an elliptical to egg-like shape. Brown, with distinctive variable fine dark brown line patterns on the dorsal surface and black spots on the two sides. Ventral surface appears cream to gray. Aperture is long and narrow, without an operculum. Both upper and lower lips are lined with small teeth.					
				
				
						
			
			
			
			
				
					Collected for food by coastal populations in many areas.  Shell used in shellcraft or sold for collections (Ref. 349). Found in coral reef and rocky habitats, common in shallow water and tide pools (Ref. 128042), under slabs and stones and in caverns of the outer edge of coral reefs.  Inhabits well-aerated waters.  Mainly nocturnal (Ref. 349).  Members of the family Cypraeidae are primarily carnivores (Ref. 67623).  Reported from Hong Kong to be found on the ceilings and walls of submarine caves (Ref. 126058).				
			
			
			
			
			
				Life cycle and mating behavior				
					Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae				
			
			
				
					Members of the order Neotaenioglossa are mostly gonochoric and broadcast spawners.  Life cycle:  Embryos develop into planktonic trocophore larvae and later into juvenile veligers before becoming fully grown adults.				
			
			
			
			
			
				Poutiers, J.M. 1998 Gastropods. p. 363-648. In Carpenter, K. E. and V. H. Niem. 1998. FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 1. Seaweeds, corals, bivalves, and gastropods. Rome, FAO. (Ref. 349)
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
					
						IUCN Red List Status    
						 (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
					
					
					
				
			
			
			
			
				CITES status   (Ref. 108899)
			
			
				
					Not Evaluated				
			
			
			
			
			
			
				
					Not Evaluated				
			
			
			
			
			
				Threat to humans  
			
			
				
					  Harmless				
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
				Human uses  
			
			
				Fisheries: commercial			
			
			
				 | FishSource | 			
			
			
			
			
			
Tools
			
			
			
			
				
					More information				
				
					 Trophic EcologyFood items (preys)
Diet composition
Food consumption
Predators
  Life cycleReproductionMaturityFecunditySpawningEggsEgg developmentLarvae   PhysiologyOxygen consumption
  Human RelatedStamps, coins, misc.
  
			 
			
			
			
				Internet sources
			
			
			
			
			
				Estimates based on models
			
			
			
									
						Preferred temperature  					
				 (Ref. 
115969): 25.1 - 29.3, mean 28.4 (based on 2882 cells).			
 
			
			
			
			
			
						
							
				
					
						Fishing Vulnerability  					
					
					
						Low vulnerability (10 of 100).					
				
						
						
			
									
						Price category  					
					
					Unknown.