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PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XI, July, 1957 
Cypraea ( Monetaria ) moneta Linne, 1758. 
Tinker (1952) p. 156, 3 figs, on p. 157; 
Morris (1952) p. 181, col. pi. 5, fig. 1; 
Kira (1955) pi. 19, fig. 23. 
Characteristically 0.75 to 1 inch long with 
thickened margins and extremities and a pol- 
ished pale yellow or greenish-yellow dorsum. 
Lives in a variety of habitats. Abundant 
under and among rocks and coral heads in 
shallow water on seaward and lagoon reef 
flats. Ordinarily occurs below low tide line 
but also found intertidally in moist rock crev- 
ices and in tide pools. Commonly found 
among seaweed in shallow bays and on sandy 
lagoon shelves and slopes in about 2 to 12 
feet of water. Also taken on small lagoon 
reefs, on exposed lagoon sand flats, and along 
rocky ocean shores. 
geographic RANGE: USNM collections are 
from East Africa eastward through the Indian 
and Pacific oceans to the Society and Tua- 
motu islands, and from southern Japan and 
Hawaii south to northeastern Australia and 
New Caledonia. C. moneta ranges into the 
eastern Pacific, occurring at Clipperton Island 
(Hertlein and Emerson, 1953), and at Cocos 
and the Galapagos Islands (Ingram, 1951), 
but it is not found on the west coast of the 
Americas. It is the most common small cowry 
in Micronesia. 
Subgenus Luria Jousseaume, 1884 
Cypraea {Luria) Isabella Linne, 1758. 
Tinker (1952) p. 148, 3 figs, on p. 149; 
Morris (1952) p. 180, pi. 5, fig. 6 (poor); 
Kira (1955) pi. 19, fig. 26. 
Characteristically about 1.25 to 1.5 inches 
long with an orange or fawn-colored dorsum, 
dark brown or orange extremities, and a white 
base. Dorsum covered with thin brown or 
blackish-brown longitudinal streaks. 
Found under rocks and in crannies on sea- 
ward reef flats, on small lagoon reefs, and in 
shallow passes between reef segments. Occurs 
from just below low tide line to a depth of 8 
to 10 feet. Apparently most abundant on lee- 
ward reefs or in protected lagoon waters, 
where it is not exposed to a heavy surf. 
GEOGRAPHIC range: Collections are from 
the African coast (Natal, Durban, South 
Africa, to the Red Sea) eastward through the 
Indian and Pacific oceans to the Society and 
Tuamotu islands, and from southern Japan 
and Hawaii south to New Guinea and New 
Caledonia. Reported from southeastern Aus- 
tralia. C. Isabella also ranges into the eastern 
Pacific, occurring at Clipperton Island (Hert- 
lein and Emerson, 1953) and at Cocos and the 
Galapagos Islands (Ingram, 1951), but it is 
not found on the west coast of the Americas. 
Common in Micronesia. 
Subgenus Talparia Troschel, 1863 
Cypraea {Talparia) argus Linne, 1758. 
Hirase and Taki (1951) pi. 92, fig. 1; Kira 
(1955) pi. 20, fig. 13. 
Characteristically 3 to 4 inches long with 
three medium brown transverse bands on a 
light fawn-colored dorsum over which are 
scattered numerous medium brown rings or 
eyes. Base whitish with four large dark brown 
splotches, two on each lip. 
None of the few specimens in the recent 
Micronesian collections were taken alive, but 
data for recently dead specimens indicate that 
this species lives below low tide line near the 
edge of seaward reefs. 
GEOGRAPHIC range: USNM collections are 
from the south China coast and the East In- 
dies eastward through the Pacific to Hawaii 
and Samoa, and from the Ryukyu and Mari- 
ana islands south to New Caledonia. Re- 
ported from the Seychelles, Madagascar, 
Mauritius, and northern Australia. Uncom- 
mon in Micronesia. 
Cypraea {Talparia) talpa Linne, 1758. 
Tinker (1952) p. 144, 3 figs, on p. 145; 
Kira (1955) pi. 20, fig. 11. 
Characteristically 2 to 3 inches long with 
dark brown margins, extremities, and teeth; 
white interstices; and a light brown dorsum 
