Triton Shells of the Cymatiidae Family

Four Triton Shells of the Cymatiidae Family can be found in this website:

Phylogeny: Triton Shells of the Cymatiidae Family are gastropod mollusks in the Littorinimorpha order. This order is large and very diverse in shape including snail-like, cowry shaped, and limpet-like. Most are marine species but some are found in freshwater or on land. They all have a twisted shell and a muscular foot that is used for movement. The key characteristic is that they all exhibit torsion, which is a process where the body twists so that the anus, gills, mantle cavity, and reproductive organs all point forward. There are sixteen superfamilies in this large order. The Cymatiidae Family is one of nine families in the superfamily Tonnoidea. The Cymatiidae Family is moderate in size, with no subfamilies, twenty-three genera, and around one hundred thirty-eight species. Shells in this family are also commonly called Cymatiids.

Description: Triton Shells are a diverse family of solidly built shells that range in size from small to large. Most species in the family are slender, with several body whorls, and sharp pointed spires, though some are globose with short spires. The exterior may be sculpted with axial and/or spiral ridges. Many display varices, which tend to occur at constant angles from one another, i.e. 120o or 270o. Unlike Murexes or Rock Shells,  Triton Shells do not have spines. Their  apertures are usually large, may be flared, and often have a thick outer lip. The outer lip is often marked with a series of short ridges. The columella usually has folds or ridges. Triton Shells have anterior siphon canals that are open and fairly long. They have a thick, ovate, opercula that are horn-like in composition. Triton shells are often brightly colored. Many species are covered with a thick, fibrous, hair-like periostracum, giving rise to the common name Hairy Triton. The largest species in this family reach around 16 cm (6.2 inches) in length.

Habitat and Distribution: Triton Shells reside on, and under, rocks and coral rubble, and on sand substrate. They range in depth from the intertidal zone to depths in excess of 2,000 m (6,560 feet). Triton Shells are found worldwide in temperate to tropical seas. Triton species have a long larval phase. Consequently, they can drift, as plankton, for long distances before settling to the bottom. As a result, these species are widely distributed with some Triton Shells having a circumtropical distribution. At least sixteen species from this family are found in Mexican waters.

Natural History: Triton Shells prey upon bivalves, gastropods, ascidians, sea cucumbers, sea stars, and urchins. They sense their prey with chemoreceptors and utilize chemicals in their saliva to anesthetize and pre-digest their prey.  In turn they are preyed upon by crabs, fish, sea stars, and predatory mollusks. They are gonochoric and reproduce sexually with internal fertilization. The eggs are laid in protective capsules. Some species of Triton Shells are edible and harvested commercially. Others are poisonous and should not be consumed.