Neobernaya spadicea

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Neobernaya spadicea, the chestnut cowrie, is a sea snail in the cowrie family. It lives along the eastern Pacific from central California to Baja California, with many sightings around Southern California and the Channel Islands. It is the only cowrie species found in this part of the Pacific.

The shell is very glossy because its mantle secretes enamel that coats the shell. When the mantle is fully extended, it can cover the shell. The shell is white with a large caramel-colored spot on top, outlined in dark brown; the underside is white. The opening is narrow with small teeth along its length. Adult shells range from 40 to 65 mm.

Habitat: Chestnut cowries live on kelp beds and rocky surfaces in intertidal and shallow subtidal zones, down to about 45 meters. They are often found under rocks or in protected crevices. They are common in Southern California but rare north of Santa Barbara.

Diet: They are scavengers and carnivores, eating items such as anemones, sponges, tunicates, eggs, and dead organisms. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat a wide range of organic matter, including some detritus.

Reproduction: In summer, they lay batches of eggs. A typical batch has about 100 capsules, each containing several hundred eggs.