This is the common name for a species of sea snails belonging to the family Cypraeidae. The golden cowrie is a very rare species which hides in the coral of the tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. The name (cowrie) is used to refer to the shell of these snails, which has the dorsum like an egg shape and a translucent look. There are various species of cowries whose shell dimension varies, from small shells to large ones, in different color patterns.

The golden cowrie is found at a depth of approximately 100 feet in the west-central to south-central of the Pacific. Usually it prefers coming out to feed at night, while in daylight it hides in the reef. It has orange shell, very shiny and smooth, rounded but flat on the underside, with white margins. The porcelain-like shell of this sea snail is used today for decorative purposes, in jewelry and also for collection. Cowrie shells are often subject to damage from crabs, their crushing force being fatal to the sea snails. Also octopuses love to eat these sea snails by injecting venom into its prey.