Cowries and their relatives (Eratoidae, Cypraeidae, Ovulidae) are a group of related families of prosobranch mollusks in which an external shell is covered with the mantle when the animal is active. The mantle is often elaborately ornamented with papillae or tubercles. Like the velutinids, they may be distinguished from sea slugs by their cephalic tentacles that emerge from beneath the mantle and have bulbous eye spots at their bases. Cypraeids are herbivores while eratoids feed on colonial tunicates and ovulids on corals. Representative Hawaiian species:

Cypraea moneta CP: Hekili Point, Maui; Dec., 2002	Cypraea helvola CP: Maui; March, 2004	Cypraea isabella CP: Maui; March, 2004
Cypraea caputserpentis CP: Hekili Point, Maui; April 20, 2008	Cypraea fimbriata CP: Kapalua Bay, Maui; Nov. 1999	Trivia edgari CP: Maui; Aug. 2002

For more information see:   Keoki Stender's cowrie page   Kwajalein cowries   Kwajalein Ovulidae   Eratoidae (Triviidae) on the Sea Slug Forum   Cypraeidae on the Sea Slug Forum   Ovulidae on the Sea Slug Forum