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arctic cowrie

Wembury Marine Centre

Arctic cowrie

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Scientific name: Trivia arctica
One of the UK’s smallest and most delicate sea snails and an absolute favourite find for avid shell collectors when washed upon the shore empty!

Top facts

Category

Stats

1cm long, 0.8cm wide

Conservation status

Common

When to see

April-October

About

Arctic cowries are often found on the rocky shore, hiding in crevices, or hanging upside down sticking to the rock with its orange muscular foot, as you can see in the image. They like to eat colonial sea squirts and are most commonly seen where their prey can also be found.

What to look for

Small cowrie with a thick, shiny, egg shaped shell, usually a pale brown/red in colour, with ridges running across the width. There are no spots on the shell of the arctic cowrie, unlike its European cousin.

Where to find

Found mainly on the north and west coasts of Britain and around Ireland.

Did you know?

The arctic cowrie will lay its eggs within a colony of sea squirts, its favourite prey!