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Fantastic Cowries of Micronesia
In the following section you will see a number of nice, rare or unusual Cypraeidae from the Kwajalein Atoll and some other small islands in Micronesia. Until a few years ago, little has been known about the cowries from this area, and subsequently there were some surprises when the first larger series reached the attention of taxonomists. For instance the famous stolida kwajaleinensis, johnsonorum and the lovely mappa eluceta. But there are even more...
Click on the name to see an image of the shells...

Name Size (mm) Data No.
beckii 15 Kwajalein, -form, dwarf 8-10
bistrinotata mediocris 12 - 17 Variation from Kwajalein, bright orange 12-1
bistrinotata mediocris 15 Kwajalein, jandeprezi-form, very rare 8-33
childreni 13 - 17 Kwajalein Atoll, typical, gems, two on left 65-1
childreni 13 - 17 whitish form, second from right 65-2
childreni 23,7 giant, only one, fine+ (on right) 65-3
chinensis amiges 35 - 40 Kwajalein, a pale variation 43-1
cicercula 14-19 Kwajalein Atoll, typical Micronesian form 2-5
gaspardi 14 Kwajalein Atoll, recognized a valid species on account of DNA studies 87-2
cribraria 20 Kwajalein Atoll, typical Micronesian shell 87-3
gaspardi 14 - 17 Kwajalein Atoll, small, large lacunae 87-4
depressa 40 - 45 Kwajalein, very heavy 19-7
depressa 36 Kwajalein, melanistic 19-8
gaskoinii 19 - 22 Hawaii, strange large elongate form 67-1
labrolineata 16 Kwajalein Form, rare 45-3
johnsonorum 10 - 12 Kwajalein Atoll, endemic. Very rare, livecollected 89-1
mappa eluceta 63 Kawjalein Atoll, pink base, heavy gem 24-1
mappa eluceta 64 Kawjalein Atoll, blotched base, dark gem 24-2
margarita 12 - 17 Kwajalein, typical, nice 32-1
mariae suluensis 15 Kwajalein, on left: holotype from Sulu Sea, on right. fresh specimen with very small spots on base 33-6
martinii 13 - 15 Kwajalein, the true form, translucent 99-1
martinii 13 - 15 Kwajalein, the true form, globular 99-2
martinii 16 Kwajalein, the true form, large 99-3
microdon 8-9 Eniwetok, Micronesian variation 11-1
nucleus 17 - 21 Kwajalein Atoll, typical form from Micronesia 15-1
poraria 12 - 16 Kwajalein variation, so far unnamed, strange translucent pink colour, rare 106-1
punctata 9-10 Kwajalein, "atomaria" - Micronesian variation 176-2
cicercula takahashii
 14 Eniwetok, unusual rostrated shell 31-3
cicercula takahashii
 12 Kwajalein Atoll. Translucent white, with four transverse bands and longitudinal sulci on labral side ?subadult 87-7
sp. cf. cribraria 14 Kwajalein Atoll, very elongate, rostrate, plain white dorsum, pitted margins 51-3
stolida kwajaleinensis 22 - 28 Kwajalein, various colour forms 44-1/7
teres teres 19 - 21 Kwajalein, not subteres although very similar, another one here 37-1/2
ursellus 9 - 4 Kwajalein Atoll, interesting pair, very rare livecollected 78-5