Ovulidae
Ovulidae, common names the ovulids, allied cowries or false cowries, is a family of small to medium sized predatory or parasitic marine gastropod molluscs. There are around 260-280 living species and range in size from 6mm-186mm. Volva volva is the largest of the Ovulid species. Being closely related to the Cowrie shells, they are very popular with shell collectors.
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About Ovulidae
The ovulids are a widespread family, occurring mostly in tropical and subtropical waters, with most species in the Indo-West Pacific region. A few species live in temperate waters.
Ovulids are carnivorous molluscs that feed on polyps and tissues of soft corals and sea fans on which they live. Regarded as ectoparasites of these sessile colonial organisms, they are anchored by a long and narrow foot. Ovulids mostly have smooth shiny shells with a very long aperture and a very low or invisible spire. The shell is often monochromatic white, pink or reddish. Some have spotting or bands.
In a few species of ovulids, the shell quite closely resembles that of cowries. However in many other species, the shells are so elongate that they do not so much resemble the shells of that closely related family.
When alive, the highly decorated mantle completely covers the shell almost all of the time.
The color patterns of the mantle closely resemble the color patterns of the host species. This is due to the phenomenon of "alimentary homochromy" (obtaining the same color as the host by feeding on the host). This phenomenon gives them a remarkable camouflage ability.