Lyncina vitellus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Deer
cowry, 22-82mm
Lyncina vitellus is a
common species under rocks on shallow lagoon reefs off Kwajalein, Ennubuj, and
Ebwaj Islands. It can also found on interisland reef-like pinnacles such as
that at Mar Fill. Small specimens are common on leeward oceanside reefs, but
only in heavy coral areas in very shallow water near the intertidal zone. Large
specimens are commonly dead-collected on lagoon bottom shipwrecks, where they
probably live secreted in crevices and under clumps of Halimeda algae
by day. We have seen specimens all the way from about 1-45m depth. This species
is widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific.
The specimen below was brooding
the large egg mass below it.
A nearly adult sized juvenile still
lacks the white spotting, which must be in the last layers of shell put down.
55.7mm, 8 January 1997
22.2mm
75.1mm, 1973
Comparison of 75.1 and 22.2mm shells.
Created
1 April 2008
Updated 2 April 2024
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