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| Money cowrie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Live animal, with mantle visible | |
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| Five views of ashell ofMonetaria moneta | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Littorinimorpha |
| Family: | Cypraeidae |
| Genus: | Monetaria |
| Species: | M. moneta |
| Binomial name | |
| Monetaria moneta | |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
| |
Monetaria moneta,common name themoney cowrie, is aspecies of smallsea snail, a marinegastropodmollusk in the familyCypraeidae, thecowries.[1]
This species is called "money cowrie" because the shells were historically widely used in manyPacific andIndian Ocean countries asshell money before coinage was in common usage.
It is a quite small cowry, up to 3 cm (1.2 in), irregular and flattened, with very calloused edges and roughly subhexagonal. The color is pale (from white to dirty beige), but the dorsum seems transparent, often greenish grey with yellowish margins, with sometimes darker transverse stripes and a delicate yellow ring. The opening is wide and white, with pronounced denticules. Themantle of the live animal is mottled with black and off-white.
The shell ofMonetaria moneta varies widely in shape and color, with some of these varieties having been described as full species. As a result, this species has numerous taxonomic synonyms.
This is a very common species which is found widely inIndo-Pacific tropical waters. It is present in numerous regions, including East andSouth Africa,Madagascar, theRed Sea and thePersian Gulf,Maldives, easternPolynesia,Galapagos,Clipperton andCocos islands offCentral America, southernJapan,Midway andHawaii, and northernNew South Wales andLord Howe Island.[3]
This cowrie lives inintertidal rocky areas and shallowtide pools amongsea weed,coral remains, and emptybivalve shells.[3] It can be found on and under rocks in shallow water and on exposed reefs at low tide. It feeds onalgae and marine vegetation growing on loose rocks and pieces of deadcoral.
Subspecies:
Forms:
The shell is used injewelry and in other decorative items such asbaskets and wall hangings.
Shells of this cowrie were commonly used as amedium of exchange[3] in many areas ofAfrica,Asia and thePacific islands until the late 19th century.
TheMaldives provided the main source ofcowrie shells, throughout Asia and parts of theEast African coast. Huge amounts ofMaldivian cowries were introduced into Africa byslave traders.[10]
It was also traded toNative Americans by European settlers.
The shell is used in divination rituals in someAfrican religions.[3] In the State ofKerala, inIndia, special money cowrie shells (which are known inMalayalam asകവിടിKavidi) are used fordivination as a practice ofHindu astrology known asprasnam. During Prasnam, the astrologer draws shells ofMonetaria moneta while reciting mantras and prayers. The number of cowries drawn is tied to a planet, and its astrological position provides an answer to a given question or the basis to a prediction.[11]
