Purpuradusta fimbriata

Lore & Background

The fringed cowry was first described by Gmelin in 1791. Its shell size varies between 7 mm and 21 mm. Several subspecies have been recognized, including Purpuradusta fimbriata durbanensis, described by Schilder & Schilder in 1938, and Purpuradusta fimbriata marquesana, described by Lorenz in 2002. Two forms are also noted: Purpuradusta fimbriata durbanensis quasigracilis (f) and Purpuradusta fimbriata unifasciata waikikiensis (f), the latter described by Schilder in 1933. The species occurs in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean off Aldabra, Chagos, the Comores, Kenya, Madagascar, the Mascarene Basin, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, the Seychelles, Somalia, and Tanzania, as well as in the Pacific Ocean off Japan.

Reader's Guide

The fringed cowry holds significance as a well-documented species within the Cypraeidae family, illustrating the taxonomic complexity of cowries through its multiple subspecies and forms. Its distribution across the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean off Japan highlights a broad geographic range that has been studied in malacological literature. The recognition of subspecies such as Purpuradusta fimbriata durbanensis and Purpuradusta fimbriata marquesana, along with forms like quasigracilis and waikikiensis, reflects ongoing efforts to classify variation within the species. References by Verdcourt (1954) and Burgess (1970) have contributed to the understanding of this cowry, particularly in East African waters. The species remains a subject of interest for collectors and researchers due to its modest size and the subtle distinctions among its populations.

Did You Know?

• The shell size of Purpuradusta fimbriata ranges from 7 mm to 21 mm.
• It has at least six recognized subspecies, including Purpuradusta fimbriata marquesana described in 2002.
• The species occurs in both the Red Sea and the Pacific Ocean off Japan.
• Two forms are noted: quasigracilis and waikikiensis, the latter described by Schilder in 1933.