About Luria isabella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Luria isabella (Linnaeus, 1758) is a very common species of cowrie. On average, the shells of this species grow 25–35 millimetres (0.98–1.38 in) long, with a minimum recorded length of 8 millimetres (0.31 in) and a maximum recorded length of 54 millimetres (2.1 in). These shells have a cylindrical shape, and their base color is light beige, fawn, or pale reddish-brown. Thin discontinuous longitudinal markings cross the dorsal surface of the shell, and orange-red terminal spots appear at the shell's extremities. The base of the shell is mainly white, and the long, narrow aperture has several short teeth. In living individuals, this species has a well-developed, black, matte, almost velvety mantle, with short external antennae. This species is found in the Red Sea, along the East African coast, in the Mascarene Basin, across the Indo-West Pacific Ocean (including Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Melanesia, the Philippines, Southern Japan, and Taiwan), and ranges as far as Hawaii. Fossils of Luria isabella have been recovered from Holocene strata on Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, and from Pliocene or Pleistocene strata on Guam. Living Luria isabella cowries occupy a wide range of habitats, found in shallow and intertidal waters down to about 35 metres (115 ft) depth. During the day, they typically remain hidden under rocks and stones, or inside small holes and coral caves. They feed on sponges, algae, or coral polyps at dawn and dusk.
