About Naria helvola (Linnaeus, 1758)
Naria helvola (Linnaeus, 1758) is a very common species of small cowrie. Adult shells of this species reach an average length of 15–23 millimetres (0.59–0.91 in), with a maximum recorded length of 36 millimetres (1.4 in) and a minimum recorded length of 8 millimetres (0.31 in). The basic shell color is orange-brown or beige, and the upper surface of the shell's dorsum is marked with many small white dots. The underside of the shell is orange-brown. In living individuals, the cowrie's mantle is transparent and bears short white papillae. This species is distributed across the entire Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, Aldabra, Chagos, the Comores, the east coast of South Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, the Mascarene Basin, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, the Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Polynesia, and Hawaii. Naria helvola inhabits intertidal zones, shallow subtidal waters, and lagoons. It typically hides under reef rocks during the day.
