World's Prettiest and Most Valuable Cowries

Cowries are small to large sea snails and also often used to refer to the shells of these snails.

Many people find the intricately patterned, very rounded, shiny, porcelain-like shells of cowries

pleasing to look at and to handle although some species are deadly.

Here are some of the most beautiful sea snails in the world.

Textile Cone (Conus textile)

Image Source

Cone snails like the elegant-looking Conus textile are dangerous species of sea snails. This particular

species is known as the "cloth of gold" and lives in the waters of the Indo-Pacific areas. The typical length

of adult Conus textile is about 9.0 cm or 3.5 in. This snail uses a conotoxin to kill its prey. This beautiful snail

is a risk to any person handling it. Several human deaths have been attributed to this species.

Lettered Cone (Conus litteratus)

Image Source

This sea snail with intricately beautiful markings is a sophisticated predatory species of sea snail, cone snail

to be specific. Conus litteratus is cone species that hunts worms and can be found in the Indo-Pacific region.

Chinese Cowry (Cypraea chinensis)

Image Source

This beautiful species of sea snail which is commonly called Chinese Cowry. This species of cowry belongs to

the Cypraeide family of marine gastropod mollusk.

Mole Cowry (Cypraea talpa)

Image Source

Another sea snail with an unusual display of beauty is the Cypraea talpa. Cypraea talpa's common name is

Mole Cowry. It is a species of cowry, a sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeide, commonly

known as cowries.

Image Source

Golden Cowry (Cypraea aurantium)

Image Source

This uncommon-to-rare species which is found in the tropical waters of Pacific Ocean commonly called Golden

Cowry is a sea snail usually found on the ocean side of islands, on the reef, at depths of 30 to 100+ feet. It normally

hides in the coral during daylight and comes out to feed at night. The Golden Cowry is a large cowry that grows 80

to 100 mm long. It is orange on the dorsum, with white to cream colored margins. These rare shells are prized by

collectors. Historically, they were worn by Fijian chiefs as a symbol of rank or privilege.

Serpent's Head Cowry (Cypraea caputserpentis)

Image Source

This pretty species of sea snail found in the Indo-Pacific region is commonly called the Serpent's Head Cowry.

It is usually found under rocks and in crevices or sometimes exposed.

Money Cowry (Cypraea moneta)

Image Source

This simply beautiful sea snail species commonly known Money Cowry is a very common species which is

found in Indo-pacific tropical waters. Shells of this cowry were commonly used as a medium of exchange in

many tropical areas of Africa, Asia and the Pacific islands until the late 19th century. The shell of Money Cowry

is still popular today in jewelry and for decoration of items like basket and wall hangings.

Isabella Cowry (Luria Isabella)

Image Source

One of the most beautiful species of sea snails is the Luria Isabella, a species that lives in the Indo-Pacific Oceans.

Image Source

Commonly called Isabella Cowry, it is fairly common in small holes and under stones. This Cowry may grow to

nearly 3 inches, but most are half that size at maturity. Hawaiian specimens have dark brown terminal spots,

whereas in other localities they are orange.

Tiger Cowry (Cypraea tigris)

Image Source

Like many species of sea snails, the Tiger Cowry is common throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Image Source

It is usually found exposed next to coral heads or in holes along ledges at shallow scuba depth and is now

uncommon due to over-collecting.

Image Source

The mantle is only extended at night. The largest recorded size of this species is more than 5 inches. Four-inch

shells are quite common along the Kona coast.

Humpback Cowry (Cypraea mauritiana)

Image Source

This attractive species of cowry is normally restricted to exposed habitats such as wave-washed basalt cliffs or

breakwaters. Cypraea mauritiana or the Humpback Cowry is a sea snail commonly found in the Indo-Pacific region.

Chestnut Cowry (Cypraea spadicea)

Image Source

The lovely and attractive Chestnut Cowry is a sea snail is a subtropical cowry of the Easter Pacific Ocean. This

species is relatively common in Southern California. The adult shell of this species ranges in size from 40 to 65

mm. This species lives on exposed rocky shores and found on overhanging rock ledges.

Map Cowry (Cypraea mappa)

Image Source

This species of cowry from the north coast of East Timor is commonly known as Map Cowry. The shell of this sea

snail has one of the most intricate pattern or markings.

Gnawed Cowry (Cypraea erosa)

Image Source

Simplicity is beauty is a saying that goes along well with the Gnawed Cowry, a species of sea snail widely

distributed in the Indo-West pacific region from east Africa to Hawaii and parts of Australia.

Arabian Cowry (Cypraea Arabica)

Image Source

This snail is definitely adorable. Cypraea arabica's common name is "Arabian Cowry", a species that belongs to

the Cypraeide family.

Geography Cone (Conus geographus)

Image Source

The Geography Cone which is usually found in the Indo-pacific region is a beauty and is well known for its venom. The

color of its shell ranges from light gray to tan, occasionally reddish, with a mottled appearance. Beware because it has

the most toxic sting known among Conus species and is responsible for the death of at least thirty divers.

Hope you enjoyed this. Thank you!

For beautiful land/freshwater snails see

Brightly Colored Snails: Beautiful aquarium Pets

For more colorful creatures see

Smiley Slime - Slimy Smile: Pretty Slugs

The World's Most Colorful snakes

For additional articles of colorful animals see

The World's Most Colorful Crabs

Not All Flies Are Yucky: 10 Most Colorful Flies

World's Most Attractive and Colorful Reptiles

Who Said That Ducks Are Ugly: Gorgeously Handsome and Colorful Waterfowls

The Twenty Most Brilliantly Colored Birds in the World

The Most Beautifully and Uniquely Colored Mammals in the World

World’s Most Brightly Colored Fishes

Top 10 Most Beautiful Caterpillars