Eclogavena quadrimaculata

Eclogavena quadrimaculata, the four-spotted cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.^[1]

Eclogavena quadrimaculata
A shell of Eclogavena quadrimaculata from Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Littorinimorpha
Family:	Cypraeidae
Genus:	Eclogavena
Species:	E. quadrimaculata
Binomial name
Eclogavena quadrimaculata (J. E. Gray, 1824)
Synonyms
Blasicrura quadrimaculata (Gray, 1824) Blasicrura (Blasicrura) quadrimaculata garretti Schilder, F.A. & Schilder, M. 1939 Cypraea nimbosa Dillwyn 1827 Cypraea quadrimaculata Gray, 1824 Eclogavena quadrimaculata quadrimaculata (Gray, 1824) · accepted, alternate representation

Subspecies

• Eclogavena quadrimaculata quadrimaculata (Gray, 1824)
• Eclogavena quadrimaculata thielei Schilder & Schilder, 1938 ^[2]

Description

Shells of Eclogavena quadrimaculata can reach a size of 14–36 millimetres (0.55–1.42 in).^[3][4] The surface of these cylindrical shells may be whitish, pale grey or pale blue, with many small brown flecks and with two large rather triangular dark brown spots at each end (hence the common name and the Latin species name quadrimaculata). These shells are completely white or pale yellowish underneath. Teeth are raised, not coloured and spread right across base up to the margin. The living animal shows a dark brown or black mantle with small white or pinkish spots.^[5][6]

Distribution

This species is present in Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland) and Philippines.^[3][4][7] These cowries can be found under rocks and among coral rubble.

Gallery

• 
  Dorsal view of a shell of Eclogavena quadrimaculata thielei
• 
  Lateral view