Lyncina aurantium

Lyncina aurantium
Lyncina aurantium
A lateral view of a shell of Lyncina aurantium, anterior end towards the left
Dorsal view of a shell of Lyncina aurantium, anterior end to 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. aurantium
Binomial name
Lyncina aurantium
Gmelin, 1791
Synonyms

Cypraea aurantium

Lyncina aurantium, common name the golden cowrie, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.[1]

Contents

Distribution

Cypraea aurantium, side view

This is an uncommon-to-rare species which is found in the tropical waters of the west-central to south-central Pacific Ocean.

Habitat

This animal is usually found on the ocean side of islands, on the reef, at depths of 30 to 100+ feet. It normally hides in the coral during daylight and comes out to feed at night.

Shell description

This is a large cowry (80 to 100 mm long). It is orange on the dorsum, with white to cream colored margins.

Human use

These rare shells are prized by collectors. In the past, they were worn by Fijian chiefs as a symbol of rank or privilege.

References

  1. ^ Lyncina aurantium (Gmelin, 1791). WoRMS (2009). Lyncina aurantium (Gmelin, 1791). Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=216865 on 5 June 2010.
  • A Guide To Shell Collecting In The Kwajalein Atoll, F.B. Brost and R.D. Coale, 1971.

External links



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