No Reserve Price !!! - Collection of Five Cypraea tigris Shells in Different Colour Variations - Height: 93 mm - Width: 92 mm- 293 g - (3)

Refined collection composed of five specimens of Cypraea tigris from Madagascar, selected for the different tones and for the variety of their natural patterns. Presented together, the shells allow observation of the wide chromatic variability that can manifest within the same species. Each specimen possesses an extremely smooth and glossy surface, a characteristic of cowries. During the mollusk's life, the edges of the mantle cover much of the shell and help maintain its polished and brilliant appearance. The shape is oval, compact and strongly domed, with slightly tapered ends and a harmonious profile. The background color varies from ivory to cream and from warm beige to bluish gray. On it are distributed numerous irregular spots, from small well-separated points to wide, denser concentrations, in shades of brown, mahogany and very dark brown. Some specimens display a particularly intense pattern, while others show a lighter and more delicate livery. This alternation creates a balanced ensemble and makes each shell clearly distinguishable from the others. On the ventral side one observes the typical long and narrow aperture, bounded by clear margins and a regular succession of dentition. The base, predominantly white and ivory, creates an elegant contrast with the darker and more intricate decoration of the dorsum. Cypraea tigris, today also classified as Mauritia tigris, is a marine gastropod found in tropical Indo-Pacific waters. It generally lives in coral and rocky areas, where during the day it seeks shelter in crevices, becoming more active at night. Despite the common name “tiger cowrie,” its decoration consists of rounded and irregular spots, differing in number, shape and intensity in every individual. A decorative and collectible lot of great charm, ideal for a malacological collection or as a composition inspired by the marine world and by ancient naturalia collections. Measures of the five specimens: 93 mm 92 mm 87 mm Origin: Madagascar Number of specimens: 3 The photographs show all the specimens included in the lot and constitute an integral part of the description.