Shell somewhat obovate, ventricose, inner and outer lips not greatly elevated above; teeth short, moderate; back ashy brown, with two faint lighter bands, and often sprinkled with black dote; sides and base purplish flesh-colored; interstices between the teeth purplish.
Length, 35; diameter, 20 mm.

Atlantic Gray Cowrie
Distribution: North Carolina, Florida, Texas; Yucatan; West Indies; Bermuda; Brazil. Size: 18 to 38 mm
Description: Color tan to brownish-purple with apertural area lighter; shape elongate-oval; spire concealed; aperture long and narrow with columellar lip having a deep fossula; labrum with numerous teeth.
Habitat: On or under hard substrates; also on sand in deeper waters. In Texas found at FGB. Depth range 0 to 1472 m (4828 ft).
Remarks: Mantle is clear and has short, dark papillae. Lorenz (2002) described the Brazilian population as a subspecies. See Burgess (1985); Lorenz and Hubert (2000); Redfern (2001). Synonym: Cypraea cinerea Gmelin, 1791.