Purpuradusta minoridens (Melville, 1901)
Small-tooth
cowry, 8-9.3mm
Purpuradusta minoridens
is rarer at Kwajalein than the two similar species, P.
fimbriata and P.
microdon. The few specimens known have all come from the seaward reef,
under rocks in surge channels at depths of 8-16m, although it may be more common
and just not often properly identified. It is most similar in shape to Purpuradusta
fimbriata. Its teeth are smaller than those of P. fimbriata but
larger than P. microdon. The anterior columellar teeth are a bit larger
than the rest, but not as distinctly larger as in P. fimbriata. The
dorsal bands are faint and not blotchy. The Indo-Pacific distribution of P.
minoridens is similar to that of P. microdon, excluding Hawaii,
Western Australia, and the northern Indian Ocean. The Marshall Islands subspecies
is Purpuradusta minoridens minoridens.
The specimen below was a bit unusual.
The spotting was closer to P. microdon, but the shape matched P.
minoridens.
8.8mm, 25 October 2008
Updated
1 April 2008
Updated 23 February 2020
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