White-spotted Cowry Shell, Erosaria albuginosa

White Spotted Cowry Shell, Cypraea albuginosa albuginosa. Shell collected off the beach in the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, February 2020. Size: 2.7 cm (1.1 inches) x 1.7 cm (0.7 inches).

The White-spotted Cowry, Erosaria albuginosa (Gray, 1825), is a gastropod mollusk that is a member of the Cypraeidae Family of Cowries. They are the only cowry of the Erosaria Genus that is found in Baja waters. The shell has a pear shaped profile with callus on the sides giving it a plump appearance. The dorsal surface is a light beige to buff color, covered with round chestnut colored spots, some of which have white centers. The shell has a lilac border wrapped around the white base. The White-spotted Cowry reach a maximum of 3.0 cm (1.2 inches) in length and 1.9 cm (0.7 inches) in height.

The White-spotted Cowry are found in deep cracks and holes within the reef at depths between 6 m (20 feet) and 24 m (80 feet). They have a discontinuous range being found from the central Sea of Cortez to Mazatlán and from the Cocos Islands south to Panama.

A synonym is Cypraea albuginosa.