Cowries, the small sea snails with colourful and glossy shells, have been widely used as currency, ornaments, and talismans. Synonyms for cowries include 'Cypraea', the scientific name of the genus that includes cowries, 'Porcelain shells', due to their smooth, polished and shiny shells that resemble fine china, 'Money cowries', as a reference to their traditional use as currency along the African coast, 'Sea money', another term, again emphasizing this use, and 'Cautionary shells' as they are traditionally believed to ward off evil spirits. They are also sometimes called 'Tiger cowries', referring to the spotted pattern on their shells that resemble the stripes of a tiger.