Lyncina schilderorum

Lyncina schilderorum, common names the sandy cowry or Schilder's cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. This species was named in honor of Franz and Maria Schilder, two German cowry biologists (hence the Latin name Schindlerorum, meaning Schilder's).

Lyncina schilderorum
A shell of Lyncina schilderorum from Hawaii, anterior end towards the right
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Littorinimorpha
Superfamily:
Cypraeoidea
Family:
Cypraeidae
Genus:
Lyncina
Species:
L. schilderorum
Binomial name
Lyncina schilderorum
Iredale, 1939
Synonyms

Description

The shells of these quite uncommon cowries reach on average 28–33 millimetres (1.1–1.3 in) of length, with a minimum size of 22 millimetres (0.87 in) and a maximum size of 43 millimetres (1.7 in). The surface is smooth and shiny, their basic color is brown-orange, with 3-5 wide light blue transversal bands. The base is whitish or bluish, with fine white teeth. The shell is quite similar to Lyncina sulcidentata, Lyncina carneola and Lyncina ventriculus. In the living cowries mantle is whitish, with long tree-shaped sensorial papillae. Mantle and foot are well developed, with external antennae. The lateral flaps of the mantle may hide completely the shell surface and may be quickly retracted into the shell opening.

A shell of Lyncina schilderorum from Hawaii, dorsal view, anterior end towards the right
A shell of Lyncina schilderorum from Hawaii, lateral view, anterior end towards the right
A shell of Lyncina schilderorum from Hawaii, apertural view, anterior end towards the left

Distribution

This species occurs in the northern and central Pacific Ocean, in the seas along the Philippines, Melanesia, Guam, Micronesia, Polynesia, Tuamotu Islands and Hawaii, excluding the Galapagos.

Habitat

These cowries mainly live in tropical intertidal waters, usually at 2–10 metres (6 ft 7 in–32 ft 10 in) of depth, hidden under rocks or coral slabs during the day. At night they can be found on the reef or small caves, feeding on sponges or corals.

References
  • Lorenz F. & Hubert A. (2000) A guide to worldwide cowries. Edition 2. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 584 pp
  • Biolib
  • "Lyncina schilderorum". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 16 January 2019.


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