TRITONS
RANELLIDAE
Atlantic Tritons Trumpet
Charonia variegata
Size
To 38cm

Description
:
Large
pointed cream to yellowish spiral shell with brown markings. Inside of the aperture is orange-pink. Inderside of lip with alternating brown and cream bands.

Ecology
This species is found shallow subtidal  and offshore from 0.3 to 100m (1-200ft), particularly on algae, boulder, coral, rock, sand and shell habitats. Diet based mainly on live echinoderms, of which sea stars/ starfish are the most preferred.

Life Cycle
The veliger larvae have a period of pelagic development of more than three months, drifting in the trans-Atlantic currents. These larvae are the largest known of any Cymatiidae in the Atlantic; the larval shell reaches 5 mm when fully developed
    Ecological Descriptors
Habitat Size (cm) Diet Behaviour Sex 
R, S, Co 38 Ech, Noct I F
Atlantic Tritons Trumpet
278
279
Atlantic Tritons Trumpet