Cypraeidae

A mollusc family. It is a member of the superfamily Cypraeoidea. Its species are known as cowries.

For collectors, this is the most popular family of molluscs, probably because the very smooth, shiny, porcelain-like outside and the bright patterns and colours. It is a large group with more than 200 named species with many different and local variants. There is one genera, Cypraea, which has been divided into subgenera over the years, based on differences in anatomy and the structure of the shells. Kay Vaught described 55 subgenera.

Major genera
 * Cypraea

Partial list of species
 * Cypraea achatidea
 * Cypraea algoensis
 * Cypraea annettae
 * Cypraea arabica
 * Cypraea arabicula
 * Cypraea argus
 * Cypraea aurantium
 * Cypraea bistrinotata
 * Cypraea capensis
 * Cypraea caputdraconis
 * Cypraea cervus
 * Cypraea cinerea
 * Cypraea coronata
 * Cypraea coxeni
 * Cypraea cribraria
 * Cypraea eglantina
 * Cypraea erythraensis
 * Cypraea friendii
 * Cypraea hesitata
 * Cypraea humphreysi
 * Cypraea isabella
 * Cypraea lurida
 * Cypraea marginalis
 * Cypraea marginarta
 * Cypraea miliaris
 * Cypraea moneta
 * Cypraea nigropunctata
 * Cypraea obvelata
 * Cypraea onyx
 * Cypraea ovum
 * Cypraea pallida
 * Cypraea rosselli
 * Cypraea quadrimaculata
 * Cypraea teulerei
 * Cypraea tessellata
 * Cypraea zebra
 * Cypraea ziczac