Malacology
Malacology is the study of mollusks. This includes animals like octopus, snails, slugs, and clams. It is the second largest phylum of animals, making them one of the most successful groups on the planet. There are over 80,000 described species of mollusks with many more left to be discovered. Mullusca is composed of 8 recognized classes including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Scaphapoda, Monoplacophorans, the Aplacophorans, Caudofoveata and Solenogastres, and Bivalvia.
Atlantic Triton Snail
(Lamarck, 1816)
Charonia variegata
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Littorinimorpha
Family:
Charoniidae
Image Voucher:
ANSP 314109
Shell Information
Length (mm): 250-380
Dextral
Chirality:
This shell has 8-9 shell whorls with defined suture regions joining each whorl. It has a tall spire leading to a blunted apex. The shell is sculpted by wide spiral ribs that are seperated by a groove. The grooves are typically brown, while the ribs are colored with an alternating pattern of tan/white and dark brown. The inner aperture has a series of white folds seperated by a dark brown stain.
Description:
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
Florida to the Caribbean Sea
1 to 384 meters
Diet:
Carnivore
Habitat:
Marine
Misc. Facts
This shell is also sometimes called the Trumpet Shell.
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Charonia variegata (Lamarck, 1816). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=181006 on 2021-06-23
Rosenberg, G. 2009. Malacolog 4.1.1: A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca. [WWW database (version 4.1.1)] URL http://www.malacolog.org/