Lynx Cowry

Description:

Also known as Eyed Cowry, and also referred to as Cypraea lynx. They have very attractive shiny shells, and equally attractive mantles, which are decorated with papillae that look like shaving brushes. They feed nocturnally on algae, sponges, worms, molluscs and tiny fish, and grow to a length of about 8cm.

Habitat:

Found in shallow water beneath dead coral and in deeper water living in caves and under ledges. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific, at depths of 2 to 20m.

Notes:

Spotted this cowry crawling on the sea floor at about 20m, during a night dive at Dayang Beach, Talikud Island, Samal. It measured about 4 to 5cm long.