Cypraea
| Cypraea | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowrie shell |
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| Systematics | ||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||
| Cypraea | ||||||||
| L. , 1758 |
_-_Cypraeidae_-_Mollusc_shell.jpg)
Cypraea is a genus from the family of cowries (Cypraeidae) and comprises only two species, on the one hand the well-known Cypraea tigris and on the other hand the rarer Cypraea pantherina . The distribution area of the species C. tigris extends from the east coast of Africa over the entire Indian Ocean to the South Sea, the species C. pantherina isnative tothe Red Sea .
description
Species of this genus are relatively large and heavy. The drawing of the case varies greatly. However, points are always present. In some individuals there are very few, in some so many that the case (with the exception of the underside) is completely covered. The underside, including the teeth, is always white. The coat of the living animal is shimmering through in both species and shows a zebra-like pattern.
species
- Cypraea pantherina Solander, 1786
- Cypraea tigris Linnaeus , 1758
Systematics
When Linnaeus described the genus Cypraea in 1758, he listed numerous species that, according to his understanding, could be subsumed there. This view is still quite common today and you can find the greatly simplified assignment in many places, but it is no longer up to date. In the 250 years that followed, researchers have found out a lot about the habitats, behavior and special characteristics of the various snails and have proposed new systems. These suggestions are never fixed; every author is free to use and publish his own system. However, all recent considerations that have to be taken seriously have one thing in common: they can no longer manage with just one genus, with the result that today's genus Cypraea only contains a few species. Since tigris and pantherina are always included, they are highlighted and listed here.
Not on the list of species appear annulus , spurca , vitellus and lynx , but mentioned, although in a classification in another no longer. On the other hand, on the second consideration one finds the species algoensis , ingloria , amphitales , fuscorubra , binostrata and philmarti , which are again unknown in the first classification. This leads to irritation.
Therefore, at this point, the note that the genus Cypraea shown here is based on a system that determines the family relationships by means of DNA analysis and not by mere visual inspection.
Distribution map
Comparison of the species
| Cypraea pantherina |
Cypraea tigris |
|
|---|---|---|
| Housing sizes | 60-82 mm | 70-108 mm |
| Occurrence | Red Sea | Indo-pacific |
| depth | up to 15 m | 10-35 m |
| view |  |
|
literature
- A Guide To Worldwide Cowries , Felix Lorenz & Alex Hubert, 2000. ISBN 3-925919-25-2
- Conchiglie - Riconoscere le cipree , Giovanna Zobele Lipparini & Osaldo Negra, Rome 2006, ISBN 88-7413-141-0
Individual evidence
- ↑ UniProt Taxonomy http://www.uniprot.org/taxonomy/69558
- ↑ OBIS Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database http://clade.ansp.org/obis/search.php/8385
- ^ Cowries database project
- ^ Cowrie Genetic Database Project http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/cowries/taxon_list.htm
- ↑ Checklist of Cypraeidae by Felix Lorenz Archive link ( Memento of the original from June 7, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
Web links
- Eddie Hardy: http://www.gastropods.com/6/Shell_96.shtml