Mauritia scurra

Lore & Background

The shells of Mauritia scurra reach an average length of 38 to 43 mm, with a minimum of 23 mm and a maximum of 57 mm. The shape is slender and slightly cylindrical; the dorsum surface is reticulate, smooth, and shiny. The basic color is light brown with beige round spots, while the margins are beige, wide and rounded, with dark brown spots. The base may be whitish, pinkish, or purplish, usually with long fine dark brown teeth along a narrow aperture. In the living cowry, the mantle is dark grey with clearer sensorial papillae.

This species ranges across the Central and East Indian Ocean along East Africa (including the Red Sea, Somalia, Aldabra, Chagos, the Comores, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Madagascar, the Mascarene Basin, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, and the Seychelles) and in the West Pacific Ocean (including Malaysia, the Sulu Sea, Eastern Australia, the Philippines, Samar Island, French Polynesia, Oceania, and Hawaii). These cowries mainly live on coral reef in tropical subtidal and intertidal waters and on the continental shelf, usually hidden under rocks, coral slabs, or in small caves during the day, as they start feeding at dusk.

Reader's Guide

Mauritia scurra is a quite uncommon cowry species, recognized for its distinctive reticulate dorsal pattern and slender form. Its presence across a broad geographic range—from East Africa to the West Pacific—highlights its adaptability to coral reef habitats in tropical waters. The species includes two recognized subspecies, Mauritia scurra occidua and Mauritia scurra scurra, while two other names (Mauritia scurra indica and Mauritia scurra mundula) are considered synonyms of the latter. The shell's coloration and pattern, with light brown dorsum, beige spots, and dark brown marginal spots, make it identifiable among cowries. Its nocturnal feeding behavior and daytime concealment under rocks or in caves are typical of many cowry species. The species has been documented in multiple malacological works, contributing to the understanding of cowry diversity in the Indo-Pacific region.

Did You Know?

• The shell length ranges from 23 mm to 57 mm, with an average of 38–43 mm.
• The living cowry's mantle is dark grey with clearer sensorial papillae.
• It is found from East Africa to Hawaii, including the Red Sea and French Polynesia.
• Two subspecies are recognized: Mauritia scurra occidua and Mauritia scurra scurra.