Cowrie << KOW ree >>, also spelled cowry, is a sea snail with a shiny, often colorful shell. It lives in shallow waters of warm seas. Cowries grow from about 1/2 to 7 inches (1.3 to 18 centimeters) long. The shell is normally covered with a colorful skinlike extension called a mantle. The mantle often has tentacles or fringes. The underside of the shell has a long, narrow opening bordered by shell teeth. Cowries usually feed at night on algae (plantlike organisms), sponges, and other creatures. There are about 200 kinds of cowries. People often use cowrie shells to make jewelry. Some rare cowries are valuable to shell collectors.
