Trivia monacha
<p><em>Trivia monacha</em> (da Costa, 1778)</p>
Trivia monacha, live adult. Mantle half extended, lateral view. LWS, Menai Strait, Wales. Aug. 2010.
Trivia monacha
Vernacular names
Spotted cowrie; European cowrie; Grottie-buckie (Scots); Cragen Fair (Welsh);
Distribution and status
Ecology and behaviour
Sublittoral, and near LWS on rocky shores. On or under stones and rock ledges near its compound ascidian prey, including Diplosoma (EML), Botryllus (EML), Botrylloides (EML) and Polyclinum(EML). The mantle can emit acid in defence. Vase-shape egg capsules are inserted into ascidians up to the neck of the vase. When covered in water, echinospira larvae are released to drift in the water column before settling on the sea floor and transforming into the juvenile shell form.
Similar species
Key identification features
References and links
Fretter, V. and Graham, A. 1962. British prosobranch molluscs. London, Ray Society.
Graham, A. 1988. Prosobranch and pyramidellid gastropods. London.
Yonge, C.M. and Thompson, T.E. 1976. Living marine molluscs. London.
Picton, B.E. & Morrow, C.C., 2010. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland
for ascidian images (EML).
for ascidian images (EML).
Taxon version key
[NBNSYS0000178459]
Sort order
2050
Taxonomic group
Marine snail
Adult shell