Monetaria annulus
A cowrie with a distinctive ring pattern, once used as shell money.
Monetaria annulus, called the ring cowrie, ring top cowrie, or gold ring cowrie, is a type of sea snail—a marine gastropod mollusk in the cowrie family Cypraeidae. Its shell ranges from 9 mm to 50 mm in size. The shell is mostly off-white or pale yellowish, sometimes with a darker area on the top, and has two yellow or orange stripes running along the upper sides. These stripes nearly meet at the ends, forming a ring-like pattern.
This species and its subspecies live in the Red Sea; across the Indian Ocean along the coasts of Aldabra, Chagos, the Comoros, eastern South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, the Mascarene Basin, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, the Seychelles, Somalia, Yemen, Oman, the Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka; and in the tropical Pacific Ocean as far north as Hawaii, reaching westward to the Galápagos Islands.
There may be three or more subspecies: *Monetaria annulus alboguttata* (Bozzetti, 2015), *Monetaria annulus meli* (Bozzetti, 2018), *Monetaria annulus camelorum*, *Monetaria annulus noumeensis* (Marie, 1869) (now considered a synonym of *Monetaria annulus annulus*), *Monetaria annulus sublitorea* (Lorenz, 1997, listed as *taxon inquirendum*), and *Monetaria annulus obvelata* (Rochebr.). The subspecies *obvelata* is sometimes raised to full species status as *Monetaria obvelata*.
In parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the ring cowrie—named for the bright orange ring on its back—was widely used as shell money, much like *Monetaria moneta*. Sometimes the ring was hammered off, making the shell nearly indistinguishable from other money cowries. Many shells of this species were uncovered by Sir Austen Henry Layard during his excavations at Nimrud from 1845 to 1851. European traders later introduced the shell to Native Americans during and after the fur trade as a cheaper substitute for highly valued elk ivory, for dowry, and for other ornamental uses.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Monetaria annulus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The ring cowrie is named for the bright orange-colored ring on the back or upper side of the shell. Its shell size varies between 9 mm and 50 mm. The species is found across a wide range, including the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean coasts of Aldabra, Chagos, the Comores, the East Coast of South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, the Mascarene Basin, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, the Seychelles, Somalia, Yemen, Oman, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, and in the tropical Pacific Ocean as far north as Hawaii and towards the western Pacific reaching the Galápagos islands.
Several subspecies have been proposed, including Monetaria annulus alboguttata, Monetaria annulus meli, Monetaria annulus camelorum, and Monetaria annulus sublitorea. The subspecies obvelata is sometimes elevated to full species status as Monetaria obvelata. The shell was commonly used as shell money, much like Monetaria moneta, and occasionally the ring part on its back would be hammered away, making it nearly indistinguishable from other money cowry species.
Reader's Guide
Monetaria annulus held notable significance as a form of shell money in parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Its use paralleled that of Monetaria moneta, and the bright orange ring on the shell made it easily recognizable. In some cases, the ring was deliberately hammered away to make the shell resemble other money cowries. Many shells of this species were found by Sir Austen Henry Layard in his excavations at Nimrud in 1845–1851. During and after the fur trade, European traders introduced the shell to Native Americans as a cheaper substitute for highly treasured elk ivory, and it was also used for dowry and other ornamental purposes. The species' wide distribution across the Indian and Pacific Oceans contributed to its availability and adoption in trade networks. Its legacy is tied to its role in pre-currency economies and cross-cultural exchange, where it served both as a medium of exchange and as an ornament.
Did You Know?
- The shell size of Monetaria annulus varies between 9 mm and 50 mm.
- The two yellow or orange stripes on the upper sides nearly touch at the ends, forming a ring-like pattern.
- Many shells were found by Sir Austen Henry Layard in excavations at Nimrud in 1845–1851.
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