Lyncina lynx (Linnaeus, 1758)
Lynx cowry, 27-63mm

Lyncina lynx is a common medium-sized cowry found primarily under rocks on shallow lagoon subtidal interisland reefs and some reef-type pinnacles (for example, the one called Mar Fill head near Kwajalein). We have seen them down to a depth of approximately 13m. Smaller specimens are usually found intertidally under rocks. Full adults have a bluish purple cast over the dorsum; specimens simply white to tan with brown spots are slightly subadult.

The hard shell of these snails is obviously not protection from all crushing predators.

54.2mm, 29 May 2000

49.75mm, March 1973

We saw a number of tiny specimens while snorkeling on a shallow reef below The Village Hotel in Pohnpei, Caroline Islands (Federated States of Micronesia), about 1000km west of Kwajalein. The empty one below measured 20.0mm.

A comparison of a 54.35mm Kwajalein specimen with the tiny 20.0mm one from Pohnpei.

Created 1 April 2008
Updated 1 June 2024

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