Cribrarula gaskoini (Reeve,
1846)
Gaskoin's cowry, 29mm
Cribrarula gaskoini lives
from shallow subtidal reefs down to at least 40m. Specimens living deeper tend
to be small, and the largest were in ledges and small caves along rough lava
shores in 3-6m depths. They appear to be active nocturnally, when they graze
on a red encrusting sponge. In the 1970s and 80s when these photographs were
taken, they were not especially rare on a number of Hawaiian reefs. We have
heard that they are harder to find nowadays. This species is considered endemic
to the Hawaiian islands, although two specimens have been found in the Marshall
Islands.
The two photos below show white patches where they prey red sponge has been
grazed from the substrate.
Below is a juvenile specimen.
25.35mm (upper) and 17.7mm (lower)
specimens are below.
Created 25 July 2010
Updated 25 December 2020
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