Barely a few centimetres long, this pale shell once travelled far beyond the sea as a form of money.
- Local names
- Reho Āmihi
About this species
Monetaria moneta has a low, somewhat irregular shell with thick margins. Usually pale cream to beige, it may show a darker mark or ring on the back. The broad mantle has contrasting, zebra-like stripes. Adults are commonly around 3 cm or smaller.
An Indo-Pacific cowrie, it inhabits shallow coastal water; the guide records it from the surface to about 20 m. Its durable, recognisable shell has a long history as a medium of exchange.
