Phylum Mollusca

Class Gastropoda

 

Family Cymatiidae

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 liquify prey including mollusks and echinoderms.

 

HAWAII

Charonia tritonis

Feeding upon Crown-of-thorns, Lana'i

TRITON'S TRUMPET

Uncommon on ledges and walls at scuba depths.  Feeds upon sea stars.  Up to 16 inches.

Cymatium nicobaricum

Kaunolu Bay tidepool, Lana'i

 

Kaunolu Bay tidepool, Lana'i

Kapoho Point, Kailua, Oahu

Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

NICOBAR'S TRITON

Common under stones and sand pockets at any depth.  Aperture is orange with heavy white teeth and columellar folds.  Feeds upon other snails by pumping acid into the prey's aperture.  Up to 3 inches.

Cymatium mundum

Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu 

GEM TRITON

Occasional under stones in shallow water.  Aperture and columella are white.  About 1.5 inches.  C. gemmatum is a synonym.

Cymatium aquatile

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 25 feet

Haleiwa Trench, Oahu, 25 feet

ORANGE HAIRY TRITON

Rare in Hawaii at scuba depths it is usually found inhabited by a hermit crab.  Aperture is pale orange.  Columella lined with orange & white.  About 3 inches.

Cymatium intermedium   

HAWAIIAN HAIRY TRITON

Fairly common under stones at any depth.  Aperture pale orange.  Columella lined with black & white.  Endemic to Hawaii.  About 2 inches.

Cymatium pileare

HAIRY TRITON

Rare under stones at any depth but prefers deep water.  White denticles extending into dark orange aperture.  Columella lined with brown & white.  Up to 5 inches.

Cymatium muricinum

PURPLE-MOUTHED TRITON

Fairly common under stones in shallow water.  The aperture is purple and the siphonal canal is elongated.  About 2.5 inches.

Cymatium hepaticum

LIVER TRITON

Very rare in Hawaii.  About 2 inches.

Cymatium rubeculum

Okoe Bay, Hawaii, 45 feet

RUBY TRITON

Uncommon at scuba depths in coral rubble.  Color ranges from red to brown.  Aperture is white.

Cymatium (Linatella) succinta

CLANDESTINE TRITON

Rare under dead coral and rubble in deep water.  About 2 inches.

Distorsio anus 

Kewalo Pipe, Oahu, 50 feet

Kewalo Pipe, Oahu, 50 feet

 

100 ft. Hole, Waikiki, Oahu, 85 feet

100 ft. Hole, Waikiki, Oahu, 85 feet

ANAL TRITON

Uncommon under stones at scuba depths.  About 2 inches.

 

Distorsio burgessi   

BURGESS' TRITON

Rare in sand over hard pavement at scuba depths.  Endemic to Hawaii.  About 3 inches.

Gyrineum pusillum

TINY TRITON

Uncommon under stones at any depth.  Strongly compressed.  About 1/2 inch.

Family Bursidae

Frog Shells

Frog shells are named for their rough texture that resembles a toad.  The have a siphonal canal like tritons but also a posterior notch or series of notches that may form tubes along the aperture's outer lip.

 

Bursa bufonia

TOAD FROG SHELL

Rare at scuba depths.  About 4 inches.  Posterior canals are moderately long.  Aperture is yellow.

Bursa cruentata

Kewalo Pipe, Oahu, 50 feet

BLOOD-MOUTHED FROG SHELL

Fairly common under stones at scuba depths.  About 1 inch.

Bursa granularis

Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

GRANULATED FROG SHELL

Uncommon in shallow water under stones.  Feeds upon worms.  Often inhabited by a hermit crab.  About 3 inches.

Bursa rhodostoma

ROSE-MOUTHED FROG SHELL

Uncommon under stones at scuba depths.  About 3/4 inch.  Aperture is pink.

Bursa rosa

ROSE FROG SHELL

Fairly common under stones.  Has elongated posterior canals.  Aperture is purple and yellow.  About 2 inches. 

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