Luria controversa

Luria controversa, the 'Controversial Isabella', is a species of cowry, a sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

Luria controversa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Littorinimorpha
Superfamily:
Cypraeoidea
Family:
Cypraeidae
Subfamily:
Lurinae
Genus:
Luria
Species:
L. controversa
Binomial name
Luria controversa
Gray, 1824
Synonyms
  • Luria isabella controversa
  • Cypraea controversa Menke K.T., 1829

Some specialists consider Luria controversa a valid species (F. A. Schilder), while other authors (Felix Lorenz)[1] regard this cowry as just a subspecies of Luria isabella (Luria isabella var. controversa).

Description
Luria controversa, side view

The shells of this species reach 10–50 millimetres (0.39–1.97 in) of length. They are smooth and elongate, the dorsum is pale brown, with slight longitudinal markings, dark brown or black terminals, and a flat white base.

Distribution and habitat

This species is found throughout the tropical West Pacific Ocean, in seas along Oceania, Polynesia, Hawaii, Midway, Society Islands and Easter Island, in intertidal shallow waters at 10–20 metres (33–66 ft) of depth. The 'Controversial Isabella' frequently occurs in the lagoon of islands and it is active at night, while during day it hides under plates of dead coral or under rocks in cracks and crevices.

References
  1. Lorenz F. (2002) New worldwide cowries; Hackenheim, Germany, Conchbooks, 292 p.
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