Little Arabian Cowry Shell, Pseudozonaria arabicula

Little Arabian Cowry Shell, Pseudozonaria arabicula. Shell collected off the beach in the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, January 2009. Size: 2.6 cm (1.0 inch) x 1.7 cm (0.7 inches).

Phylogeny: The Little Arabian Cowry, Pseudozonaria arabicula (Lamarck, 1810), is a gastropod mollusk that is a member of the Cypraeidae Family of Cowrie Shells. The genus Pseudozonaria is one of fifty-five genera in this family, and there are five species in this genus. They are also known as the Fine-tooth Cowry Shell and in Mexico as Cuarí Arábico.

Description: The Little Arabian Cowry is solid and egg-shaped, with a curved, heavy, toothed aperture that is deeply notched at both ends. The dorsal surface of the shell is mottled yellowish brown on a gray background. They have a wide, light violet border wrapping around the shell margins, the border is also heavily spotted with black spots. The base is pinkish in color. The Little Arabian Cowries reach a maximum of 3.7 cm (1.5 inches) in length and 2.4 cm (1.0 inch) in height.

Habitat and Distribution: Little Arabian Cowries are found under rocks and in the recesses of rock or coral reefs being found subtidally to depths up to 10 m (35 feet). They are a subtropical to tropical Eastern Pacific species that are found in all Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean with the exceptions that they are absent from north of Puerto Chale, Baja California Sur, along the central and northwest coasts of the Baja Peninsua and north of Guaymas, Sonora, in the Sea of Cortez. Previous records of this species being found in the Indian Ocean appear to have been caused by confusion with the species Mauritia arabica, or its synonym Cypraea arabica.

Ecology and Behavior: Little Arabian Cowries are opportunistic grazers  that feed on algae and sponges, and perhaps other small organisms. They are gonochoric and reproduce sexually, with internal fertilization. The eggs are laid in protective capsules. There is no mention in the available literature of them engaging in any types of parasitic, commensal, or symbiotic relationships. From a conservation perspective they have not been formally evaluated however they are fairly common with a relatively wide distribution and should be considered to be of Least Concern.

Synonyms:  Cypraea (Zonaria) arabicula, Cypraea arabicula, Cypraea gemmula, and Cypraea massauensis.