Species profile
Chestnut Cowry
Neobernaya spadicea
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
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.