Beautiful TIGER COWRY PURPLE TOP Individual Purple color does vary. Some pale some very purple some a bit on the brownish side. Cypraea Tigris - commonly know as the Tiger Cowry. It feeds on polyps on coral reefs. It is most commonly found under the coral rocks in the Indo-Pacific region and also around the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The exterior of the shell is smooth and polished because of the covering that the animal has, called a mantle, that wraps around the entire shell. Some cultures see cowry shells as a symbol of fertility and are often offered to a bride as a gift to ensure fertility. The outer shell is brown and black spotted, similar to a tiger, but the purple resides in a lower layer. To reach the purple of the shell, they are dipped into an acidic formula. Tiger cowries are also used in carvings like cameos due to this uniform color under the patterned shell. Perfect for mirrors, wreaths, wind chimes, picture frames, shell flowers, shell layer sculpture figures! This shell is limited only by your imagination. They are natural and have slight differences in stripes and spots from one to the next ! I have tried to show that with the picture. Stop in and visit our e-store for many more great choices. Will gladly give shipping discounts and or ship internationally.---------If you add us to your favorites list you will be updated by e-bay when we list new items. Don't forget to sign up for our monthly news letter !