.  Collected by diver at 60 feet of water, at Cebu Island, the Philippines, 2019.  Scott Johnson has some great photos of map cowries in the wild, you know, the kind of photos that make you drool and wish you were shell collecting there!  I only found a couple of beached map cowries during the time I lived on Kwajalein, and even beached the shell is simply beautiful, so it's no surprise that this cowrie is one of the most popular of the cowrie family.  

.  And this shell, with its interesting pattern on a smooth, glossy dorsum, and slightly orange-colored mouth, is a fabulous near-GEM that will look terrific on your shelf!

The perfect shell for a first-rate collection.

As for normal disclaimers, we do the best we can with photos, but color is tricky, especially since cell phone cameras automatically lean towards flesh-tone coloring, (that's why so many of the photos of shells on eBay show up with more orange than is really there, the camera changes the color, and damm if I can figure out how to stop that from happening, but I try, honest!

As for feedback, as your know, sellers live and die by the feedback you leaved, (please leave fives!) so if you have a problem, just let me know!  After all, I'm retired, and all messages go directly to my phone, so unless I'm out shell collecting I will get back to you pronto-like!

Shell collecting!  Now there's a phrase that brings smiles to your eyes, doesn't it!

Anyhow, if you have read this far, you have my apologies and best wishes from those of us at IslandShells323.  And don't forget, 

Home is where your collection is!

Cypraea mappa #3 65.7mm Linnaeus 1758, GORGEOUS NEAR-GEM from the Philippines