Lyncina schilderorum
Lyncina schilderorum, common names the sandy cowry or Schilder's cowry, is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. This species was named in honor of Franz and Maria Schilder, two German cowry biologists (hence the Latin name "Schindlerorum", meaning "Schilder's"). Description. The shells of these quite uncommon cowries reach on average of length, with a minimum size of and a maximum size of . The surface is smooth and shiny, their basic color is brown-orange, with 3-5 wide light blue transversal bands. The base is  whitish or bluish, with fine white teeth. The shell is quite similar to "Lyncina sulcidentata", "Lyncina carneola" and "Lyncina ventriculus". In the living cowries mantle is whitish, with long tree-shaped sensorial papillae. Mantle and foot are well developed, with external antennae. The lateral flaps of the mantle may hide completely the shell surface and may be quickly retracted into the shell opening. Distribution. This species occurs in the northern and central Pacific Ocean, in the seas along the Philippines, Melanesia, Guam, Micronesia, Polynesia, Tuamotu Islands and Hawaii, excluding the Galapagos. Habitat. These cowries mainly live in tropical intertidal waters , usually at of depth, hidden under rocks or coral slabs during the day. At night they can be found on the reef or small caves, feeding on sponges or corals.