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CYPRAEIDAE 181
Cypraea mus Linne (pi. 6e) is often found in American collections al-
though it is limited to the southern part of the Caribbean. It is 2 inches in
length, mouse-gray (Mouse Cowrie), and has a pair of irregular black-brown
stripes on the back. It is frequently deformed with one or two small bumps
on the back.
Subgenus Zonaria Jousseaume 1884
Cypraea spadicea Swainson Chestnut Cowrie
Monterey, California, to Cerros Island, Lower California.
Plate 6b
I to 2 inches in length, half as high, with a hard, glossy enamel finish.
Base white, with about 20 to 23 teeth on each side of the long, narrow aper-
ture. Sides bluish to mauve-gray, above which there is dark-chocolate fading
on top to light chestnut-brown with a bluish undertone. Moderately common
at certain seasons at low tide among seaweed, and also down to 25
fathoms.
Family OVULIDAE
Genus Frimovula Thiele 1925
Subgenus Pseiidosbnnia Schilder 1927
Frimovula carnea Poiret Dwarf Red Ovula
Southeast Florida, the West Indies and the Mediterranean.
Plate 2 2q
% to ^/2 inch in length. This species resembles a miniature cowrie. The
body whorl is rotund, pink to yellow in color and with numerous, fine spiral,
incised lines. Aperture narrow, arched, and with a canal at each end. Outer
lip curled in like that of a cowrie, and with about 20 small, rounded, whitish
teeth. Upper parietal wall with a large, rounded, short ridge or tooth. Apex
not showing. Rare from 25 to 100 fathoms.
Genus Pedicidaria Swainson 1840
Subgenus Pediculariella Thiele 1925
Fedicularia decussata Gould Decussate Pedicularia
Georgia to southeast Florida and the West Indies.
Plate yd
/4 to V2 inch in length, moderately thick-shelled, with a long and flaring
aperture, and pure-white in color. Sculpture of fine reticulations with the
spiral threads the strongest. Columella a straight ridge with the parietal wall
concavely dished. The entire shell has a distorted, "squeezed" appearance.
Nuclear whorls obese, translucent-brown, reticulated, and with a sinuate lip