Description:

A medium-sized predatory sea snail. A solid shell exhibiting strong spiral cords with irregular nobbled surfaces. Pairs of narrow cords lie between the large cords with deeply incised grooves between all cords. Two well-formed varices per whorl with prominent nodules in between.

Colour. The exterior is cream or off white with spots lines and patches of rust brown and often with bluish black lines in the deep grooves and dark brown or black spots on the cords. The interior of the aperture is orange and the outer lip has two axial rows of seven white denticles and a crenulated border. The Columella and parietal region have strong white plicae.

Max Length: 90mm. Commonly to 65mm.

Most common between tide marks and in shallow subtidal waves. Inhabits dead coral blocks. Also found in shelf zones, outer edges of windward reef flats, intertidal coral reefs, reef and coastal lagoons, particularly on algae, boulder, coral, rock, sand and shell habitats, seagrass and offshore banks (depth 1-36m).

It is a mobile predator known to predate oysters, clams, mussels etc...

Jarret (2000) noted it inhabits “patches of eel-grass, littered with coral debris in shallow water and is particularly common at Anse Etoile” (Pre-reclamation).

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations.

Cymatium nicobaricum also occurs as a synonym in the literature but is incorrect. The smaller specimen shown here shows the outer colours and morphology well, but it is lacking its parietal wall and outer lip. The larger specimen is heavily calcified but retains its parietal wall and outer lip and so is shown here for comparison and overview.

Note: no live specimens are collected for the purposes of this website.

EOL. Monoplex nicobaricus (Röding 1798). https://eol.org/pages/596115 (20/04/20).

Jarrett, A.G. (2000). Marine Shells of the Seychelles. Carole Green Publishing, 2 Station Road, Swavesey, Cambridge CB4 5QJ. UK. ISBN. 1 903479 00 2.

MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Cymatium nicobaricum (Röding, 1798). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=141109 on 2020-04-20

Palomares, M.L.D. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2020. SeaLifeBase. Cymatium nicobaricum. https://www.sealifebase.ca/summary/Cymatium-nicobaricum.html (20/04/20).

Nevill, J.E.G (2020). Seychelles Seatizens. Monoplex nicobaricus. https://seatizens.sc/invertebrates/monoplex-nicobaricus-roding-1798/