[syn. Cypraea tessellata]Leho or Checkered cowryIndigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (also Japan, Taiwan, The Philippines)Chun's Reef, Oahu mid-1970'sDorsal viewwww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/8427760806/in/photolist-...The Hawaiian name in general for cowries is leho. Early Hawaiians used larger leho to lure hee (octopus) to capture. Smaller leho were used in lei work.Please note: I do not collect or trade sea shells any longer. For me, the value of the animal is far greater than the shell it possess.
Panther cowryCypraeidaeCollected: Red SeaNOTE: I have not collected live shells since the mid-1970's. I believe that the animal itself is much more valuable alive than destroyed for its shell. It is for this reason that I will only collect beach/forest shells from deceased specimens.
[syn. Cypraea aurantium]Golden cowryCypraeidaeSamar, Philippines103 mmUndersidewww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/6477933695/in/datetaken-...This was an expected gift from a friend in the PI.NOTE: I have not collected live shells since the mid-1970's. I believe that the animal itself is much more valuable alive than destroyed for its shell. It is for this reason that I will now only collect beach/forest shells from deceased specimens.
[syn. Cypraea aurantium]Golden cowryCypraeidaeSamar, Philippines103 mmDorsalwww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/6477929309/in/datetaken-...This was an expected gift from a friend in the PI.NOTE: I have not collected live shells since the mid-1970's. I believe that the animal itself is much more valuable alive than destroyed for its shell. It is for this reason that I will now only collect beach/forest shells from deceased specimens.
