The shells of Luria lurida reach on average 40–48 millimetres (1.6–1.9 in)of length, with a minimum size of 14 millimetres (0.55 in) and a maximum size of 66 millimetres (2.6 in). The dorsum surface of these elongated, smooth and shiny shells is mainly pale brown or reddish, with three transversal darker bands alternating with narrower clearer bands. At the extremities of the shell there are two separate dark brown spots. The aperture is wide, with several teeth. In the living cowries the mantle is dark brown and may cover the entire shell. The male is usually smaller and elongated than the female.
A shell of Luria lurida from Sicily, lateral view, anterior end towards the right
Dorsal view of a shell of Luria lurida from Sicily, dorsal view, anterior end towards the right
Distribution
This common species is distributed in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Atlantic Ocean along Macaronesia and West Africa, mainly in Senegal and Angola.
Habitat
As they fear the light, during the day usually they hide themselves in small caves, crevices or under rocks up to about 40 metres (130 ft) of depth. They live on rocky seabed and corals, feeding during the night mainly on sponges of Verongia aerophoba, Aiplysina aerophoba, Chondrilla nucula and Tethya aurantium.
Lateral view of a shell of Luria lurida pulchroides, anterior end to the right
Lateral view of a shell of Luria lurida lurida, anterior end to the right
References
↑ 1.01.11.2Luria lurida (Linnaeus, 1758). Gofas, S. (2009). Luria lurida (Linnaeus, 1758). In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=139499 on 17 October 2010 .
Doneddu, M. (1999). "Some notes about range, habitat and ecology of the Mediterranean species of Cypraeidae". The Festivus (San Diego) 31 (8): 87–91.
Gmelin, J.F. (1791). "Vermes". in Gmelin J.F. (in latin). Caroli a Linnaei Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae Ed. 13. Tome 1(6). Lipsiae [Leipzig]: G.E. Beer. pp. 3021–3910. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/83098#5.
Repetto, G.; Orlando, F.; Arduino, G. (2005) (in it). Conchiglie del Mediterraneo: 1770 specie illustrate con distribuzione e frequenza. Alba, Italy: Amici del Museo "Federico Eusebio". [as Luria lurida (Linné, 1758)]
Rolán, E. (2005). "Part 1, Polyplacophora and Gastropoda". Malacological Fauna From The Cape Verde Archipelago.
Settepassi, F. (1977) (in it). Atlante malacologico : molluschi marini viventi nel Mediterraneo. II. Roma: Museo di Zoologia.