Mauritia maculifera
A tropical cowry with bluish dots and a brown columellar spot.
Mauritia maculifera, called the blotched cowry or reticulated cowry, is a marine gastropod mollusk in the cowry family Cypraeidae. Its smooth, shiny shell typically measures 44 to 54 mm long, though specimens range from 30 mm to 89 mm. The dorsal surface is dark brown with large, distinct bluish dots, while the edges bear large brown spots. The base is white, pale brown, or pale pinkish. The long, narrow aperture has several dark brown teeth, and a characteristic brown spot on the columella helps distinguish this species. In living animals, the transparent mantle, which can cover the entire shell, has blue sensory papillae.
This fairly common cowry lives in the Indian Ocean around Chagos and the Seychelles, and across the Pacific from Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Fiji, and Micronesia through western Polynesia and Hawaii. It inhabits tropical shallow water in subtidal and low intertidal zones, typically under rocks or on coral reefs at depths of about 4 meters or more. Because it avoids light, it begins feeding at dusk, mainly on sponges or coral polyps.
Four subspecies are recognized: *Mauritia maculifera andreae*, *M. m. maculifera*, *M. m. martybealsi*, and *M. m. scindata*. *Mauritia maculifera hawaiiensis* is considered a synonym of *M. m. maculifera*.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Mauritia (gastropod)
- Species
- maculifera
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The shell of Mauritia maculifera is smooth and shiny, typically dark brown with distinct large bluish dots on the dorsum and large brown spots along the edges. The base is white, pale brown, or pale pinkish, and the aperture is long and narrow, lined with several dark brown teeth. A characteristic brown columellar spot helps distinguish this species from similar cowries. In living specimens, the mantle is transparent with blue sensorial papillae and may cover the entire shell.
This species inhabits tropical shallow water, subtidal and low intertidal zones, usually under rocks or coral reefs at a minimum depth of about 4 meters. Because they fear light, they begin feeding at dusk, primarily on sponges or coral polyps.
Four subspecies have been recognized: Mauritia maculifera andreae, Mauritia maculifera maculifera, Mauritia maculifera martybealsi, and Mauritia maculifera scindata. The name Mauritia maculifera hawaiiensis is considered a synonym of Mauritia maculifera maculifera.
Reader's Guide
Mauritia maculifera is a well-known cowry among collectors due to its distinctive blotched pattern and relatively wide distribution across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its shells, averaging 44–54 mm in length but reaching up to 89 mm, are notable for the dark brown dorsum with large bluish dots and the characteristic brown columellar spot that aids identification. The species is common in its range, which includes the Chagos Archipelago, Seychelles, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Fiji, Micronesia, western Polynesia, and Hawaii. It lives in shallow tropical waters, typically under rocks or on coral reefs at depths of about 4 meters or more, emerging at dusk to feed on sponges and coral polyps. The transparent mantle with blue papillae is a striking feature of living animals. The recognition of four subspecies reflects geographic variation within the species, though one proposed subspecies (Mauritia maculifera hawaiiensis) has been synonymized with the nominate form. This cowry remains a standard reference for studies of Cypraeidae diversity and distribution.
Did You Know?
- The shell can reach a maximum size of 89 mm.
- It feeds mainly on sponges or coral polyps, starting at dusk.
- Four subspecies have been recognized, with one synonymized.
More in Cowries 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced