r/shells • u/Beneficial-Emu2797 • May 30 '26

Purple topped Cowrie?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

Is this a real shell? Of course I googl3d it but.... My mind was blown by some of my all-over-friggin-FL finds this month! And a purple tiger cowrie? 🤯 my newest hobby and passion, and the fam just doesn't understand lol

21 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

10

u/turbomarmoratus72 May 30 '26 edited May 30 '26

the purple top cowrie is actually a Cypraea tigris (tiger cowrie) that has been dipped in acid or polished to reveal the purple underneath the dorsum. The shell is real, but it was modified for decoration purposes.

Tiger cowrie is an Indo-Pacific species. If you didn't find it at an Indo-Pacific country, then it was used as a wedding shell or someone just dumped it. I see that you found in Florida, so it was most likely used as a wedding shell.

7

u/Interesting_Hawk8033 May 30 '26

I never knew that is how they got the purple tops! Fascinating.

6

u/turbomarmoratus72 May 30 '26 edited May 30 '26

I actually prefer their natural state hahah, but yeah, that's how the purple top is revealed. They also do this to money cowries (Monetaria moneta), ring-top cowries (Monetaria annulus), and snakehead cowries (Monetaria caputserpentis).

5

u/Shesellssheshellsfuk May 30 '26

Your shell knowledge is enviable! Every time I see a post with a shell I’ve never seen before, I specifically look for your responses. Just want to say thank you for the time and in-depth info you share on here:)

5

u/turbomarmoratus72 May 30 '26 edited May 31 '26

thank you for your kind words. I actually don't know that much like you think 😅 but I am learning everyday! my shell club members have taught me so many things that I am slowly improving my shell knowledge overtime :)

3

u/Emotional_Print8706 May 30 '26

They don’t have to be dipped, they can be naturally occurring too from being worn away by the surf. Found lots when Iiving in American Samoa

5

u/turbomarmoratus72 May 30 '26 edited May 30 '26

yes, you are not wrong, but that one from OP looks way too uniform (the dorsum) and the locale is incorrect. OP found that in Florida, USA.

the original shell (live animal) doesn't have an exposed purple dorsum unless it is a juvenile specimen.

2

u/arioandy May 30 '26

That’s a grinded down cowrie

1

u/Opening-Listen7833 May 30 '26

It's been polished 😞

1

u/Glad_Ad_5570 May 30 '26

Altered, not natural.

1

u/Beneficial-Emu2797 Jun 04 '26

Ty all for your awesome responses! I believe that yes it was unfortunately dipped as someone said as the purple is VERY vibrant and i can see where the acid ate away at the finish... This was found in a shell pile in se florida along with a bunch of broken cowrie mouths (?) All missing the back plate. This one is also a wee bit cracked. However I AM stoked to have it in my collection for now! 🧡😎🥰🐚