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Family Cypraeidae

INDO-PACIFIC

Cypraea (Ovatipsa) chinensis chinensis

Zanzibar, East Africa

CHINESE COWRY

Fairly common under dead coral.  Cylindrical, cream with orange teeth, purple dots and green reticulated dorsum.  Broad, depressed shells from the Pacific are referred to as Cypraea chinensis amiges, among several other regional forms.  Attains 2 inches.  East Africa to the Central Pacific.