Monetaria caputdraconis

Monetaria caputdraconis, common name the "dragon's-head cowry", is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

Monetaria caputdraconis, side view

Monetaria caputdraconis
Dorsal view of a shell of Monetaria caputdraconis from Easter Island, anterior end towards the right
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Littorinimorpha
Superfamily:
Cypraeoidea
Family:
Cypraeidae
Subfamily:
Erosariinae
Genus:
Monetaria
Species:
M. caputdraconis
Binomial name
Monetaria caputdraconis
Melvill, 1888
Synonyms
  • Cypraea caputdraconis Melvill, 1888

The common name of this species comes from its Latin name caputdraconis, meaning "the head of the dragon".

Description

The shell reaches about 15–40 millimetres (0.59–1.57 in) in length. It is pyriform with rather long teeth. The basic color of the shell is uniformly brown on its edge, with many yellowish small spots on the top of the dorsum.

Distribution

This endemic species is found in the sea along Easter Island and Sala y Gomez Island, where it replaces the similar Monetaria caputserpentis. It is mainly encountered under coral rocks in the intertidal reef.

References
  • Lorenz F. & Hubert A. (2000) A guide to worldwide cowries. Edition 2. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 584 pp
  • Biolib
  • "Monetaria caputdraconis caputdraconis". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  • WoRMS


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