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Triton's trumpet

Charonia tritonis

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Triton's trumpet

Charonia tritonis

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Triton's trumpet a.k.a. the Giant triton can grow up to 60cm and feeds on sea stars and urchins by injecting them with a paralyzing agent in their saliva. It is one of the few animals to feed on the destructive Crown-of-Thorn Starfish (Acanthaster planci). According to research by the Australian Institute of Marine Science this starfish is responsible for the killing almost 25% of the coral on the Great Barrier Reef since the 1980's.

Alternative names

Giant triton.

Tags

Nudibranchs, cowries, sea slugs, sea snails, Sea snails