Lyncina ventriculus

{{Short description|Species of gastropod}} {{Speciesbox | image = Cypraeidae lyncina ventriculus 600x600.jpg | image_caption = A shell of ''Lyncina ventriculus'', lateral view, anterior end towards the left | genus = Lyncina | species = ventriculus | authority = Lamarck, 1810 | synonyms_ref = | synonyms = *''Cypraea ventriculus'' Lamarck, 1810 *''Cypraea achatina'' (Perry, 1811) *''Cypraea otahitensis'' (Schubert & Wagner 1829) *''Cypraea topee'' (Steadman & Cotton 1943) *''Ponda ventriculus'' (Lamarck, 1810) }}

'''''Lyncina ventriculus''''', the '''ventral cowry''', is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.

==Description== The shells of these uncommon cowries reach on average {{convert|45|-|50|mm}} of length, with a minimum size of {{convert|32|mm}} and a maximum size of {{convert|75|mm}}. The shape of these smooth and shiny shells is usually oval, the dorsum surface is generally reddish brown, with four dark brown transversal bands, while the sides are definitely chocolate brown and present several vertical thin lines. The base may be white, pale pink or pale brown, the aperture is long and narrow, with short teeth on both lips. The shell is quite similar to ''Lyncina schilderorum'', ''Lyncina carneola'' and ''Lyncina sulcidentata''. In the living cowries the mantle is dark-grey, with clearer sensorial papillae. {| ||[[File:Cypraidae - Cypraea ventriculus - Leyete, Philippines-9.JPG|thumb|220px|left|A shell of ''Lyncina ventriculus'' from Philippines, dorsal view, anterior end towards the right]] ||[[File:Cypraeidae - Cypraea ventriculus - Leyete, Philippines-3.JPG|thumb|220px|left|A shell of ''Lyncina ventriculus'' from Philippines, lateral view, anterior end towards the left]] ||[[File:Cypraidae - Cypraea ventriculus - Leyete, Philippines-4.JPG|thumb|220px|left|A shell of ''Lyncina ventriculus'' from Philippines, ventral view, anterior end towards the left]] |}

==Distribution== This species is distributed in the eastern Indian Ocean (Malaysia, Eastern Indonesia, Cocos Islands and Christmas Island), in the Central and Western Pacific Ocean (South China Sea, Taiwan, Philippines, Samar Island, Guam, Melanesia, Solomon Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, eastern Polynesia, Tahiti and Hawaii).

==Habitat== They live in tropical intertidal and subtidal water and in continental shelf up to about {{convert|30|m}} of depth, usually on coral reef.

==References== * Lorenz F. & Hubert A. (2000) A guide to worldwide cowries. Edition 2. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 584 pp * Burgess, C.M. (1970). The Living Cowries. AS Barnes and Co, Ltd. Cranbury, New Jersey

==External links== * [https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id142881/ Biolib] * [http://www.underwaterkwaj.com/cowry/Lyncina-ventriculus.htm Lyncina ventriculus] * [http://clade.ansp.org/obis/search.php/52455 Clade]

Category:Cypraeidae Category:Gastropods described in 1810 Category:Taxa named by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck