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Updated 12/26/2025

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 liquefy prey including mollusks and echinoderms.

 

HAWAII - ENDEMIC

Septa occidentalis beui    

BEU'S TRITON

Septa occidentalis beui    

BEU'S TRITON

 


CIRCUMTROPICAL / HAWAII

Monoplex mundus

CLEAR TRITON

 

Monoplex nicobaricus

NICOBAR TRITON

 

Monoplex comptus

DWARF TRITON

 

Gutturnium muricinum

KNOBBY TRITON

 

Monoplex aquatilis

AQUATIC HAIRY TRITON

 

Monoplex pilearis

COMMON HAIRY TRITON

 

Turritriton labiosus

 

WIDE-LIPPED TRITON

 

Monoplex parthenopeus

 

GIANT HAIRY TRITON

 

Gelagna succinta

CLANDESTINE TRITON

Linatella caudata

GIRDLED TRITON

 

   

INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Monoplex gemmatus

GEM TRITON

 

Monoplex intermedius

INTERMEDIATE HAIRY TRITON

 

Septa hepatica

BLACK-STRIPED TRITON

 

Septa rubecula

RUBY TRITON

 

Lotoria grandimaculata

LARGE-SPOTTED TRITON

 

Lotoria lotoria

BLACK-SPOTTED TRITON

 

Ranularia pyrum

PEAR TRITON

 

Ranularia sarcostoma

FLESH-MOUTHED TRITON

 

Ranularia gutturnia

ORANGE-MOUTHED TRITON

 

Ranularia springsteeni

SPRINGSTEEN'S TRITON

 

Gyrineum lacunatum

PURPLE GYRE TRITON

 

 
   


Family Charoniidae

Triton's trumpets

This family is composed of a species complex present across tropical and subtropical seas worldwide.  They prey upon echinoderms, especially sea stars.  Their large size and beauty led to severe over-collecting for ornamental purposes.  This group was separated from the Cymatiidae in 2019.

INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAI

TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC

Charonia tritonis

TRITON'S TRUMPET

 



Family Personidae

Distorted tritons

Distorted tritons have a constricted aperture.  This group was separated from the Cymatiidae in 2005.

HAWAII - ENDEMIC

Distorsio burgessi 

 BURGESS' TRITON

 


INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Distorsio anus 

COMMON DISTORSIO

or ANAL TRITON

 

INDO-PACIFIC

Distorsio reticularis 

RETICULATED DISTORSIO

 


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

Dulcerana granularis

GRANULATED FROG SHELL

 


INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Bursa bufonia

WARTY FROG SHELL

 
Lampasopsis cruentata

BLOOD-STAINED FROG SHELL

 

Bursa rosa

ROSY FROG SHELL

 

Lampasopis rhodostoma

WINE-MOUTH FROG SHELL

Tritonoranella latitudo

LATITUDE FROG SHELL

 

Tutufa bufo

RED-MOUTH FROG SHELL