ハチジョウダカラガイ

also: ハチジョウタカラガイ

Meanings

chocolate cowry; humpback cowry

usually written using kana alone

A species of cowry (Mauritia mauritiana) with a distinctive humped shell; also known as the chocolate cowry. The name ハチジョウダカラガイ refers to its association with Hachijō Island.

See also: タカラガイ (たからがい)

ハチジョウダカラガイは八はち丈じょう島じま近きん海かいで見みられる巻まき貝がいの一いっ種しゅです。
The chocolate cowry is a type of sea snail found in the waters around Hachijō Island.
このハチジョウダカラガイの殻からはつややかな茶ちゃ色いろをしている。
The shell of this humpback cowry is a glossy brown color.

Kanji

八eight, eight radical (no. 12)
丈length, ten shaku, measure
宝treasure, wealth, valuables
貝shellfish

Related words

宝たから貝がい
宝貝 is the general term for cowry shells, while ハチジョウダカラガイ refers specifically to the chocolate cowry (Mauritia mauritiana).

Built from

八はち丈じょう+タカラガイ

Written forms

八丈宝貝
- はちじょうだからがい
  Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the word is normally written in kana.
- はちじょうたからがい
ハチジョウタカラガイ
kana-only spelling
Alternate reading variant in katakana; less common than ハチジョウダカラガイ.
はちじょうだからがい
Hiragana spelling; acceptable but katakana is more typical for species names.
はちじょうたからがい

Etymology

The name combines 八丈 (Hachijō, referring to Hachijō Island) and 宝貝 (takaragai, 'cowry'), reflecting the species' association with the island. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.