WHATSTHATFISH
Sea slugs & snails

Lynx Cowrie

Lyncina lynx

Also known as: Cowry, Eglantine Cowry, Eyed Cowry, Porcelain Lynx

Adult
@blogie · Dayang Beach Dive Site, Talikud Island, Island Garden City of Samal, Philippines · April 20121 / 1
01

Overview

Found in small groups, during the day under coral slabs, stones and half exposed crevices of coral and rocky reefs, out foraging for food at night.
They feed nocturnally on sponges.

One of the most beautiful their mantle papillae resemble a shaving brush

Cypraeidae have beautiful shells and equally beautiful mantles.
The Cowries are probably the most admired and sought after by shell collectors.
Cowries have few predators, but the mollusc-eating cones like Conus textile and octopus can inject venom into the cowry's flesh through a small hole and then sucks out the contents.
The mantle is like a cloak around the shell, highly muscular and when it contracts it forces water through the tubular siphon to propel itself rapidly through the water.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
blotches
Body shape
bristles

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found in small groups, during the day under coral slabs, stones and half exposed crevices of coral and rocky reefs, out foraging for food at night.

04

Adult photos 1

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumMollusca
    3. classGastropoda
    4. orderLittorinimorpha
    5. familyCypraeidae
    6. genusLyncina
    7. speciesLyncina lynx (Linnaeus, 1758)

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Sea Snails (Cypraeidae)