Augers are related to Cone shells and Turrids that also possess a harpoon-like radula and inject venom to capture prey, specifically worms.  Their slender  shells are designed for crawling along beneath the sand leaving a trail behind them.  A few prefer drifting up-and-down sloping beaches with the surf while hunting, quickly burying between waves at the water's edge.  As a general rule, augers prefer fine, clean sand and tend to stay near the edge of reefs rather than in the middle of nowhere.  The greatest number of species will be found at deeper scuba depths.

Waimanalo, Oahu, 8 feet

Endemic to Hawaii.  Rare in shallow water.  Whorls are concave between the sutures with pitted spirals.  Up to 5 inches.

Rare in shallow water.  Smooth with fine axial growth lines.  Up to 5 inches.  Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Endemic Hawaiian subspecies.  Uncommon in shallow water.  Cream with beige spots, well-defined subsutural band.  Up to 3 inches.   T. argus argus occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Sea Tiger, Oahu, 120 feet

Uncommon at any depth.  Up to 6 inches.   Hawaii & the Tropical Pacific.

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 80 feet

Wailupe, Oahu, 12 feet

Common in shallow water including coarse sandy pockets.  Variable, gray to flesh, crenulations light or heavy.  Reaches 5 inches.   Hawaii, Indo-Pacific, Western Mexico.

Uncommon in coarse sand on shallow reefs.  Up to 3 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Honokohau, Hawaii, 50 feet

Midway Lagoon, 30 feet

Locally common at any depth.  Spire sometimes broken off.  Creates a large trail as it crawls along.  Attains nearly 12 inches.   Hawaii, Indo-Pacific, Western Mexico.

Common in coarse sand in shallow water.  Smooth with barely defined subsutural band.  Cream, rarely with dark brown spots.  Reaches 3 inches but usually less.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Kewalo, Oahu, 90 feet

Kewalo, Oahu, 90 feet

Uncommon in sand deeper than 80 feet.  Whorls more inflated and ribs stronger than T. gouldi.  Reaches 4 inches.   Endemic to Hawaii.

Very rare at scuba depths.  Inflated whorls clouded with brown.  Reaches 2 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Rare at scuba depths.  Up to 2 inches.  Slender with flat whorls clouded with orange.   India to Hawaii.

Kewalo, Oahu, 90 feet

Rare at scuba depths.  Slender, strong axial ribs, light subsutural nodules, dark between ribs.  Up to 2 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Makua, Oahu, 30 feet

Rare at scuba depths.  Semi-glossy with low ribs with punctate spirals between.  Orange-brown clouded with white, darker between ribs.  Up to 2 inches.  Difficult to separate from T. columellaris & T. kilburni.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Rare in deep water.  Slender with fine ribs crossed by punctate spirals.  Dull orange with white blotches.  Up to 2 inches.  Difficult to separate from T. columellaris & T. nebulosa.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Fairly common at any depth.  Glossy with curved ribs with punctate spirals between.  Orange with white spirals.  Up to 2 inches.  Difficult to separate from T. nebulosa & T. kilburni.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Uncommon at any depth.  Slender, cream with yellow spirals and scattered brown spots on subsutural band.  Up to 1.5 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Common at any depth.  Fine, flat ribs separated by deep punctures, white with flesh-colored blotches.  Up to 2 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Uncommon at any depth on the island of Hawaii.  Broad flat ribs separated by punctures, white with flesh-colored blotches.  About 1.5 inches.   Hawaii, Indo-Pacific, Sea of Cortez..

Uncommon at any depth.  Slender form prefers deeper water than inflated form.  Up to 1.5 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Fairly common at any depth.  Smooth cords vary in strength.  Up to 2 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Fairly common at scuba depths.  Glossy orange with double row of white nodules.  Up to 1.5 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Uncommon at any depth.  Dull with four flat spirals cut by curved axial grooves.  Up to 3 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Fairly common at any depth.  Cream with double row of nodules connected by slight axial ribs.  Up to 1.5 inches.   Endemic to Hawaii.

Makua, Oahu, 25 feet

Endemic to Hawaii.  Common at any depth.  Terebra (Acus) thaanumi has shorter whorls, stronger ribs, and occurs in deep water.  Up to 4 inches.

Waimanalo, Oahu

Waimanalo, Oahu

Rare on surf-swept beaches.  Feeds at night in the shorebreak.  Color variable.  Up to 3 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Makua, Oahu, 15 feet

Makua, Oahu, 15 feet

Makua, Oahu, 15 feet

Rare on surf-swept beaches, more common at diving depths.  Flaring aperture, color variable.  Up to 1.5 inches.  Uses foot to sail in the surge.  Hawaii & Japan.

Uncommon at any depth.  More delicate than H. inconstans with narrow aperture, color variable.  Up to 1.5 inches.  H. mera is a synonym.  Hawaii, Indo-Pacific, and Western Mexico.

Sharks Cove, Oahu, 35 feet

Sharks Cove, Oahu, 35 feet

Common at any depth.  Whorls slightly inflated, irregular wavy lines, colors variable.  Up to 1.75 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Uncommon at scuba depths.  Whorls straight-sided, brown lines are uniform compared to H. penicillata.  Up to 2 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Rare in Hawaii at depths greater than 300 feet.  Less than 1 inch.  Hawaii, Tropical Pacific and Japan.

Uncommon at scuba depths.  Fine axial ribs may be obsolete or strong, color yellow, olive, or brown.  Columella entirely white.  About  2 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Rare at scuba depths.  Fine axial ribs may be obsolete or strong, color yellow, olive, or brown.  Columella marked with brown.  About 2 inches.   Hawaii & the Indo-West Pacific.

Uncommon at scuba depths.  Dark brown with sharp, widely spaced axial ribs.  About 1 inch.   Hawaii & the Tropical Pacific.

Kahe Point, Oahu, 25 feet

Uncommon at scuba depths.  Gray with weak, widely-spaced ribs, subsutural band of punctures.  About 1.5 inches.    Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Puako, Hawaii, 80 feet

Uncommon at scuba depths.  Glossy brown with closely-spaced pale ribs, subsutural band of deep punctures.  Up to 1.5 inches.   Hastula contigua is a synonym.  Hawaii & the Tropical Pacific.

Uncommon at scuba depths.  Matte brown with strong curved ribs, subsutural band of deep punctures, fine spiral threads between ribs.  About 1 inch.   Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

Uncommon at scuba depths.  Glossy brown with pale ribs.  Less than 1/2 inch.  H. tiedemani is a synonym.  Hawaii & the Tropical Pacific.

Fairly common under rocks in shallow water.  Pink with brown spiral at suture, fine axial ribs.  Less than 1/2 inch.    Hawaii & the Indo-Pacific.

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