Purpuradusta gracilis

Lore & Background

Purpuradusta gracilis was originally described by Gaskoin in 1849 under the genus Cypraea. Several subspecies have been recognized, including Purpuradusta gracilis gracilis, Purpuradusta gracilis jamila, Purpuradusta gracilis macula, Purpuradusta gracilis nemethi, and Purpuradusta gracilis notata. Additionally, two forms have been noted: Purpuradusta gracilis gracilis japonica and Purpuradusta gracilis macula hilda. The species has a shell that reaches 14.9 mm in length. Its distribution spans European waters and the Indian Ocean, with records from Aldabra, Chagos, Kenya, the Mascarene Basin, Mauritius, Réunion, the Seychelles, Somalia, South Korea, and Tanzania.

Reader's Guide

Purpuradusta gracilis is a cowry species within the family Cypraeidae, first described in the mid-19th century. Its taxonomy includes multiple subspecies and forms, reflecting variation across its wide geographic range. The species is notable for its presence in both European waters and the Indian Ocean, including locations such as Aldabra, Chagos, Kenya, Mauritius, Réunion, the Seychelles, Somalia, South Korea, and Tanzania. The shell attains a length of 14.9 mm. The subspecies Purpuradusta gracilis nemethi was described in 2010, and the form Purpuradusta gracilis notata jamila was noted in 1993. The species has been referenced in works on living cowries and European marine species, as well as in studies on egg capsules and reproduction of marine prosobranch mollusks. Its presence in the Lessepsian migration context has been discussed, with a range extension noted for this species and Erronea caurica.

Did You Know?

• The shell of Purpuradusta gracilis attains a length of 14.9 mm.
• The subspecies Purpuradusta gracilis nemethi was described by Van Heesvelde in 2010.
• This species is distributed in European waters and the Indian Ocean, including Aldabra, Chagos, and South Korea.