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Updated 8/27/2022

Family Ranellidae

Tritons

Tritons have solid shells with prominent spiral sculpture interrupted by varices, vertical ridges that are remnants of the shell's aperture from earlier stages of growth.  There is a short siphonal canal at the anterior end or base of the shell.  Most live shells are covered by a periostracum composed of brown bristles giving them a hairy appearance.   Tritons use corrosive saliva to subdue and liquefy prey including mollusks and echinoderms.  Family Cymatiidae was reorganized under the Ranellidae as a subfamily in 2005. 

 

HAWAII - ENDEMIC

  Septa occidentalis beui    

BEU'S TRITON

 


CIRCUMTROPICAL / HAWAII

Gelagna succinta

CLANDESTINE TRITON

 

Monoplex nicobaricus

NICOBAR'S TRITON

 

Monoplex mundus

CLEAR TRITON

 

Gutturnium muricinum

PURPLE-MOUTHED TRITON

 

Monoplex aquatilis

COSMOPOLITAN HAIRY TRITON

 

Monoplex pilearis

COMMON HAIRY TRITON

 

Monoplex comptus

DWARF TRITON

 

 

 

 


INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Charonia tritonis

TRITON'S TRUMPET

 

Monoplex intermedius

INTERMEDIATE HAIRY TRITON

 

Septa hepatica

BLACK-STRIPED or LIVER TRITON

 

Septa rubecula

RUBY TRITON

 

Gyrineum lacunatum

PURPLE GYRE TRITON

 

 

 

 



Family Personidae

Distorted Tritons

Distorted tritons with constricted aperture.  This group was included in the Cymatiidae until 2005.

HAWAII - ENDEMIC

Distorsio burgessi 

CHECKERBOARD DISTORSIO

or BURGESS' TRITON


INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Distorsio anus 

COMMON DISTORSIO

or ANAL TRITON

 


Family Bursidae

Frog Shells

Frog shells are named for the rough texture resembling a toad.  They are similar to tritons with the addition of a posterior notch, or series of notches, that may form tubes along the aperture's outer lip.  They prey upon worms and shells are often heavily encrusted with coralline algae.

 

CIRCUMTROPICAL / HAWAII

Bursa granularis

GRANULATED FROG SHELL

 


INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Bursa bufonia bufonia

WARTY FROG SHELL

 
Bursa cruentata

BLOOD-STAINED FROG SHELL

 

Bursa rosa

ROSY FROG SHELL

 

Bursa rhodostoma rhodostoma

WINE-MOUTH FROG SHELL