Mauritia arabica

The following subspecies are recognized:[1]

• Mauritia arabica arabica (Linnaeus, 1758): represented as Mauritia arabica (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Mauritia arabica asiatica F. A. Schilder & M. Schilder, 1939
• Mauritia arabica grayana Schilder, 1930: synonym of Mauritia grayana Schilder, 1930
• Mauritia arabica immanis Schilder & Schilder, 1938
• Mauritia arabica khanhhoaensis Thach, 2019 (synonym: Mauritia arabica huberi Thach, 2018 )
• Mauritia arabica merguina Lorenz & Huber, 1993: synonym of accepted as Mauritia arabica asiatica F. A. Schilder & M. Schilder, 1939 (Lorenz (2002) says it might be a separate subspecies (i.e., not sure), but lists is under Mauritia arabica asiatica; not studied molecularly)
• Mauritia arabica ngocngai Thach, 2018
• Mauritia arabica nhatrangensis Thach, 2018
• Mauritia arabica phanrangensis Thach, 2020
• Mauritia arabica thachi F. Huber, 2018

The maximum shell length of this species is 105 mm, but more commonly in only reaches 80 mm.[2]

The shell outline is oblong or nearly elliptical. The spire is barely distinguishable dorsally. As is the case in other Cypraeidae, the aperture of the shell is very narrow, and relatively long. Both the inner and outer lips are ornamented with arrays of small teeth. The dorsal side of the shell is convex or bent, and never depressed.[2] The dorsal mantle groove (the line or area where the two mantle flaps meet when they are fully extended) is dissimilar to the shells general color pattern, and thus easily perceivable. The lateral margins are calloused, mainly towards both the posterior and anterior ends.[2] The ventral side of the shell is typically flattened, and sometimes slightly concave.

As is also the case in the shell of most other Cypraeidae snails, the shell surface is notably effulgent (shiny), as if it had been deliberately polished. The color is generally cream to light fawn dorsally, with shades of brown.[2] The ventral side of the shell is colored cream to grey. The labral teeth are reddish brown and white towards the columella.[2] The common name Arabian cowry is based on a dense and irregular pattern of thin longitudinal brown lines which are sometimes interrupted by empty spaces, giving an appearance that is considered to be similar to that of Arabic script.

Mauritia arabica and its close relative Mauritia eglantina have very similar shells which can be easily confused. M. eglantina has a dark blotch or spot near the spire (M. arabica lacks this blotch) and generally has a narrower outline and more elongate-cylindrical shell form. [3]

Mauritia arabica is distributed widespread in the Indo-West Pacific, from East and South Africa (including Madagascar, but not the Red Sea nor the Persian Gulf), to the eastern Polynesia. It spreads north to Japan and south to New South Wales, Australia.[2]

This sea snail dwells under boulder and stones, and also shelters in caverns of the outskirts of coral reefs.[2] It lives in low intertidal zones to shallow sublittoral depths. Mauritia arabica is mainly active during the nocturnal period.[2]

Mauritia arabica is collected for food by locals in many areas. The shell is commonly used in shellcraft.[2]

• 
  A map of the distribution of Mauritia arabica
• 
  Mauritia arabica in situ
• 
  A shell of Mauritia arabica. Notice the arrays of small labral teeth and the long aperture
• 
  Mauritia arabica f. niger

• Burgess, C.M. (1970). The Living Cowries. AS Barnes and Co, Ltd. Cranbury, New Jersey

• Ladd, H.S. (1977). Cenozoic fossil mollusks from western Pacific islands; Gastropods (Eratoidae through Harpidae). U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper. 533: i–iv, 1–84, pls 1–23 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
• On-line articles with Mauritia arabica in the HAWAIIAN SHELL NEWS (1960-1994)
• Discover Life website
• Photos of Mauritia arabica on Sealife Collection

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mauritia arabica.