Common Name: Yellow Ringed Cowrie

Distribution: Abundant throughout the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific region. In Australia recorded from south western Western Australia, across the tropical north, the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef in Queensland and south to southern New South Wales and including Lord Howe Island.

Ecological Notes: Found in tidal rock pools and occasionally shallow reef. Usually concealed under rocks and in crevices. Often found in same habitat as Monetaria moneta.

Additional Notes: Dorsum and sides off-white with very pale brown, grey or blue tones. Distinctive orange ring encircles dorsum. Base is white to off-white, large teeth white to off-white.The mantle is grey-black with a fine delicate pattern. Papillae are short and yellowish-grey in colour. Egg masses are pale yellow, see lower photograph. Grows to 30 mm.

References: Cowries of New South Wales, David Tarrant, published by David Tarrant, Coffs Harbour, NSW, 2016. p.43.

Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=Monetaria+annulus. Accessed 08/11/2018.