Nucleolaria granulata
Nucleolaria granulata, common name the granulated cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Description
The shell of this quite uncommon cowry reaches on average in length, with a maximum size of and a minimum size of. The shape of the shells is a wide oval, and it appears flattened. The dorsum surface is rough, with a deep longitudinal line in the middle and many protuberances of various sizes, each connected by thin ribs. The aperture is narrow, and the outer and inner lips have fine teeth. The base is wide, and the teeth are extended to cross the entire base as ribs on both sides. In the living cowries, the mantle is pinkish or reddish, with well-developed papillae, which serve to camouflage these mollusks against the seabed.Young shells often exhibit gloss, but become fully dull upon reaching maturity.