European Cowrie - Trivia monacha

The European Cowrie, Trivia monacha, is common on rocky areas of the shore and in shallow water. Its shell is completely covered by the animal's body when it is active giving it asort of diffuse, soft outline. The shell usually has three dark spots but they may be indistinct. A similar species, the arctic cowrie, has no spots. Cowries are very small, maybe just over 1cm long when inactive, and feed on sea squirts.