Testudovolva nipponensis

Testudovolva nipponensis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ovulidae, the ovulids, cowry allies or false cowries.^[1]

Testudovolva nipponensis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Littorinimorpha
Family:	Ovulidae
Genus:	Testudovolva
Species:	T. nipponensis
Binomial name
Testudovolva nipponensis (Pilsbry, 1913)
Synonyms[1]
Ovula nipponensis Pilsbry, 1931 Prionovolva brevis Allan, 1956 Pseudosimnia kandai Cate & Azuma in Cate, 1973

Description

The shell size varies between 5 mm and 14 mm. Color can vary, including white, fawn or pale purple with outer lip white.

Distribution

This species is distributed in the Pacific Ocean along Japan and the Philippines. Can be found at low tide as well as among soft corals.

References

1. Testudovolva nipponensis (Pilsbry, 1913). WoRMS (2009). Testudovolva nipponensis (Pilsbry, 1913). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=430569 on 20 January 2011 .

• Cate, C. N. 1973. A systematic revision of the recent Cypraeid family Ovulidae. Veliger 15 (supplement): 1–117
• Lorenz F. & Fehse D. (2009). The Living Ovulidae - A manual of the families of Allied Cowries: Ovulidae, Pediculariidae and Eocypraeidae. Conchbooks, Hackenheim, Germany