Australia's Spectacular Cowries: A Review and Field Study of Two Endemic Genera--Zoila and Umbilia

This comprehensive volume is designed as a practical handbook for marine biologists, divers, shell collectors, students and naturalists. Covering 10 species of the endemic Australian genera Zoila and Umbilia, "Australia's Spectacular Cowries" offers an impressive collation of information on the variation, distribution, habitats, living and fossil history of these popular and beautiful marine animals. Most of the species in these groups are characterised by extreme variability in shell form and colour pattern. With photographs of over 600 shell specimens, each of the known variations of every species is illustrated in full colour. The book also includes detailed distribution maps and more then 250 photographs of the animals in their natural habitats. "Australia's Spectacular Cowries" is a concise, easy-to-read guide to these endemic Australian cowries.