Zonaria pyrum, common name the pear cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.MolluscaBase eds. (2023). MolluscaBase. Zonaria pyrum (Gmelin, 1791). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=139502 on 2023-11-26
Subspecies Zonaria pyrum insularum F. A. Schilder, 1928 Zonaria pyrum pyrum (Gmelin, 1791)
Description The shells of these quite common cowries reach on average of length, with a minimum size of and a maximum size of .
Description They are very variable in pattern and colour. The surface is smooth and shiny, their basic color is usually orange-brown, with many brown spots and two or three clear trasversal bands. The base, the margins and the teeth are orange or pinkish. In the living cowries mantle and foot are quite developed, with external antennae. The mantle is orange-reddish, with yellow papillae. The lateral flaps may hide completely the shell surface and may be quickly retracted into the shell opening.
Distribution This species occurs in the Mediterranean Sea to southwest Africa, off Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Italy, Lampedusa Island, Sicily, Malta, Greece, Turkey, Senegal, Gabon and Angola.
Habitat These cowries live in tropical and subtropical waters usually up to of depth, hidden under rocks or coral slabs and caves. They are omnivore-grazer, mainly feeding at night on sponges, algae and corals.
References
Coen, G. (1933). Saggio di una Sylloge Molluscorum Adriaticorum. Memorie del Regio Comitato Talassografico Italiano. 192: i-vii, 1–186, pl. 1–10. Coen, G. (1949). Nota su alcune forme nuove di Cypreacea. Historia Naturalis. 3(1): 13–18. Repetto G., Orlando F. & Arduino G. (2005): Conchiglie del Mediterraneo, Amici del Museo "Federico Eusebio", Alba, Italy Bergonzoni M. (2013) The Zonaria pyrum complex. Beautifulcowries Magazine 3: 35–56. Lorenz, F. (2017). Cowries. A guide to the gastropod family Cypraeidae. Volume 1, Biology and systematics. Harxheim: ConchBooks. 644 pp.
External links Gmelin, J. F. (1791). Vermes. In: Gmelin J.F. (Ed.) Caroli a Linnaei Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Ed. 13. Tome 1(6). G.E. Beer, Lipsiae Monterosato, T. A. di. (1898). Sur les Cypraea de la Méditerranée. Journal de Conchyliologie. 45 (3): 153-165, pl. 6 Risso, A. (1826–1827). Histoire naturelle des principales productions de l'Europe Méridionale et particulièrement de celles des environs de Nice et des Alpes Maritimes. [book series]. volumes 1–5. Paris, F.G. Levrault. vol. 3. Mammifères. Oiseaux. Poissons / vol. 4. Mollusques. Annélides / vol. 5. Crustacés. Myriapodes, scorpionides, arachnides et acarides. Insectes. Vers intestinaux. Radiaires. Zoophytes Pallary, P. (1900). Coquilles marines du littoral du département d'Oran. Journal de Conchyliologie. 48(3): 211-422 Gofas, S.; Le Renard, J.; Bouchet, P. (2001). Mollusca. in: Costello, M.J. et al. (eds), European Register of Marine Species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Patrimoines Naturels. 50: 180-213. Biolib