Purple-mouthed Cowrie Shell (species: Lyncina carneola) in Lady Elliot Island (Gaia Guide)
Lady Elliot Island > Marine Invertebrates > Gastropoda > Littorinimorpha > Cypraeidae > Lyncina carneola (gallery)
Lyncina carneola
Purple-mouthed Cowrie Shell


©H. Zell: Purple-mouthed Cowrie Shell (Lyncina carneola)

©Barbara Banks: Lyncina carneola, Lizard Island Queensland clam garden

©Barbara Banks: Lyncina carneola, Lizard Island Queensland Clam garden

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Order Littorinimorpha
Family Cypraeidae
Genus Lyncina
Species Lyncina carneola

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Colours

              

Distinguishing features

Top pale orange/brown with four darker transverse bands, sides and base uniformly pale. Teeth fine, deep purple. (From Wilson, 1993).

Size

  • Up to 8 cm (Length of specimen)

Synonyms

Comments

Wilson (1993) notes that this species is moderately common in coral reef habitats and that it is extremely variable. He does not illustrate or explain the range of variability. One of the specimens photographed here has fine purple teeth and the top has the described colour pattern but the base is not uniformly pale.

by Anne Hoggett

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Web resources

References

  • Wilson, B. (1993). Australian Marine Shells Odyssey Publishing, Kallaroo, Western Australia.