What is white toothed cowrie?

The white toothed cowrie, also known as the Cypraea leucodon, is a species of sea snail that belongs to the family of cowries. They are found in different parts of the world including the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Ocean. White toothed cowries grow to around 2.5 cm in length and have a distinctive elongated shell with white teeth around the opening. The shiny shell has two shades of brown often with a white band around the middle. They have a herbivorous diet and are known to feed on algae. The white toothed cowrie is often collected for its beautiful shell which is used in jewelry making. While they are not considered an endangered species, over-harvesting of the shells has led to a decline in their numbers in certain areas.