Species profile
Chestnut Cowry
Neobernaya spadicea
Identify Chestnut Cowry (Neobernaya spadicea) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
At a glance
Chestnut Cowry (Neobernaya spadicea) is a marine snails (periwinkle/cowrie) present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 2,323 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in California.
Notable details
- Endemic to California and Baja California, it is rarely found north of Point Conception.
- The living animal extends its mantle over the shell, keeping the surface brilliantly glossy.
- Shells can reach about 3 inches (7.5 cm) in length.
- It feeds on encrusting sponges on rocky subtidal reefs.
- Heavy collection in the 20th century significantly reduced populations near urban California coasts.
Where Chestnut Cowry are seen
Background
Neobernaya spadicea, common name the chestnut cowrie, is a species of sea snail in the cowrie family, Cypraeidae. Chestnut cowries can be found in the eastern Pacific Ocean, from central California to Baja California. The chestnut cowrie has a highly glossy shell due to an enamel that is secreted from its mantle.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Chestnut Cowry article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other marine snails (periwinkle/cowrie) on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Chestnut Cowry?
Chestnut Cowry (Neobernaya spadicea) is a marine snails (periwinkle/cowrie) present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
What is the scientific name for Chestnut Cowry?
Chestnut Cowry is Neobernaya spadicea.
Are there fishing rules for Chestnut Cowry?
Chestnut Cowry does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify Chestnut Cowry?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Chestnut Cowry along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.