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Lyncina vitellus
"The shells of these very common cowries reach on average 35–45 millimetres (1.4–1.8 in)of length, with a minimum size of 20 millimetres (0.79 in) and a maximum size of 100 millimetres (3.9 in). The shape is usually pear-shaped, the dorsum surface is smooth and shiny and may be pale or dark brown, with several small white spots. The margins and the extremities are clearer, while the base is generally white, with a wide sinuous aperture and long labial teeth. The margins show also numerous thin vertical whitish lines. The juvenile forms have two-three clearer trasversal bands on the shell dorsum. These shells are quite similar and may be confused with the shells of Lyncina camelopardalis. In the living cowries the mantle is grey-brown and almost trasparent, with long whitish tree-shaped papillae. Mantle and foot are very well developed, usually with external antennae." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyncina_vit...
They live in tropical intertidal and subtidal water at about 0–25 metres (0–82 ft)of depth on coral reef, usually under coral slabs and stones.
Spotted on a night dive at a depth of about 4.5 m. Secret Bay, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
Spotted on Jul 14, 2012
Submitted on Feb 20, 2013
3 Comments
I did not realize the mantle had those little spikes all over it! Fascinating! Cool series of pics- thanks !
Thank you Maria. It is always a pleasure to see live ones instead of just the shell :-)
Cool series; I had seen the shells but not what lived inside them. Thanks for sharing this!