Pustularia (gastropod)
A small genus of cowries found across the Indo-Pacific region.
Pustularia is a small genus of medium-sized marine gastropod molluscs, commonly known as cowries or sea snails. It belongs to the subfamily Pustulariinae within the family Cypraeidae. These cowries inhabit coastal waters of East Africa, Australia, Hawaii, the Philippines, the Red Sea, and the broader Indo-Pacific region. The genus includes species such as *Pustularia bistrinotata*, *Pustularia chiapponii*, *Pustularia cicercula*, *Pustularia globulus*, *Pustularia keelingensis*, *Pustularia jandeprezi*, the extinct †*Pustularia korneli* and †*Pustularia lodanensis*, *Pustularia marerubra*, *Pustularia margarita* (the pearl cowry) with its subspecies *Pustularia margarita africana* and *Pustularia margarita tuamotensis*, and *Pustularia mauiensis* (the Maui chick-pea cowry, endemic to Hawaii). Several former species are now considered synonyms, including *Pustularia childreni*, *Pustularia mariae*, *Pustularia maricola*, the extinct †*Pustularia pisiformis* and †*Pustularia rugifera*, *Pustularia tricornis*, *Pustularia tuamotensis*, and *Pustularia wattsi*.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Pustularia (gastropod)
- Type Species
- Cypraea cicercula
- Type Species Authority
- Linnaeus, 1758
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The genus Pustularia was established within the cowrie family Cypraeidae, and its species are distributed across warm marine waters from East Africa to Hawaii. Notable species include the Pearl cowry (Pustularia margarita) and the Maui chick-pea cowry (Pustularia mauiensis), the latter endemic to Hawaii. Several species have been reclassified over time; for instance, Pustularia childreni is now accepted as Ipsa childreni, and Pustularia mariae is treated as Annepona mariae. The genus also includes fossil species such as Pustularia korneli and Pustularia lodanensis, indicating a longer evolutionary history. Taxonomic revisions have led to the synonymization of several names, including Pustularia tricornis as a subspecies of Pustularia cicercula tricornis, and Pustularia tuamotensis as a variety of Pustularia margarita.
Reader's Guide
The genus Pustularia holds significance within cowrie studies due to its relatively small size and the taxonomic complexity that has surrounded its species. The monograph by Lorenz (2014) and the broader cowrie guide by Lorenz (2017) have helped clarify the systematics of the group, distinguishing valid species from synonyms. The presence of both extant and fossil species, such as Pustularia korneli and Pustularia lodanensis, provides insight into the historical biogeography of cowries in the Indo-Pacific. The genus also illustrates the challenges of molluscan taxonomy, with several former Pustularia species now placed in other genera like Ipsa, Annepona, Nesiocypraea, Ficadusta, and Maestratia. The endemic Maui chick-pea cowry (Pustularia mauiensis) highlights the importance of Hawaiian waters as a center of cowrie diversity. Overall, Pustularia serves as a case study in the refinement of cowrie classification and the ongoing efforts to document marine biodiversity.
Did You Know?
- Pustularia mauiensis, the Maui chick-pea cowry, is endemic to Hawaii.
- The genus includes both living species and fossil species such as Pustularia korneli.
- Pustularia margarita is commonly known as the Pearl cowry.
- Several former Pustularia species have been moved to other genera, including Ipsa childreni and Annepona mariae.
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