Few questions about shells get asked more frquently than the old "Since
cowries are covered by mantles most of the time, why do they display
such a range of color and pattern variation: what purpose(s) does this
serve??" chestnut. Yet, i have yet to see a convincing answer. Any
takers? For one thing, are cowries really that secretive? Do they
expose themselves perhaps a little more often than popularly imagined?
-Ross Mayhew