, ▁the ▁cow ries . ▁ ▁Description ▁The ▁shell s ▁of ▁these ▁quite ▁common ▁cow ries ▁reach ▁on ▁average ▁ ▁in ▁length , ▁with ▁a ▁minimum ▁size ▁of ▁ ▁and ▁a ▁maximum ▁size ▁of ▁. ▁The ▁d ors um ▁surface ▁of ▁these ▁smooth ▁and ▁sh iny ▁shell s ▁is ▁generally ▁dark ▁brown , ▁with ▁distinct ▁large ▁yellow ish ▁or ▁am ber ▁d ots . ▁The ▁edges ▁of ▁the ▁d ors um ▁and ▁the ▁base ▁are ▁completely ▁dark ▁brown . ▁The ▁a pert ure ▁is ▁long ▁and ▁narrow , ▁with ▁several ▁dark ▁brown ▁teeth ▁and ▁clear ▁spacing . ▁▁ ▁In ▁the ▁living ▁cow ries ▁the ▁mant le ▁is ▁completely ▁black , ▁without ▁sens orial ▁pap illa e . ▁ ▁Distribution ▁ ▁This ▁is ▁an ▁Ind o - P ac ific ▁species ▁( see ▁range ▁map ) ▁occurr ing ▁ ▁in ▁the ▁Indian ▁Ocean ▁along ▁South - E ast ▁Africa ▁and ▁in ▁the ▁western ▁Pacific ▁Ocean ▁( western ▁and ▁northern ▁Australia , ▁Malays ia , ▁ ▁Philippines ▁and ▁Hawai i ). ▁ ▁Hab itat ▁This ▁species ▁of ▁cow ry ▁is ▁normally ▁restricted ▁to ▁exposed ▁habit ats ▁such ▁as ▁wave - w ashed ▁bas alt ▁cl iffs ▁or ▁break w aters . ▁ ▁Maur it ia ▁ma ur it iana ▁lives ▁in ▁tropical ▁low ▁inter tid al ▁water , ▁usually ▁under ▁rocks ▁or ▁in ▁rock y ▁cre v ices ▁at ▁a ▁minimum ▁depth ▁of ▁about ▁, ▁but ▁can ▁be ▁found ▁up ▁to ▁. ▁ ▁References ▁▁ ▁Sch ilder , ▁F . ▁A . ▁and ▁Sch ilder