This book is a comprehensive treatment of the family Cypraeidae. 260 species taxa and 193 subspecies of living cowries, placed in 9 subfamilies and 49 genera, are discussed. The systematics follows molecular data as well as shell and animal morphology. A selection of fossil taxa is presented to understand the evolutionary history and the modification of the cowrie's shapes over millions of years. Volume 2 features the diversity of living and fossil cowries, their beautiful shells and fascinating animals.weiterlesen