noun
cowrie; cowry
Refers to the marine gastropod of the family Cypraeidae, known for its glossy, often colorful shell. The shell itself is also called タカラガイ.
海岸で小さなタカラガイを見つけた。
I found a small cowrie on the beach.
Usually written in kana; the katakana spelling is common in biological contexts.
Kanji form is rare; the word is normally written in kana.
Compound of 宝 (takara, 'treasure') + 貝 (kai, 'shell'), referring to the shell's use as currency and ornament in ancient times.