astronomy-to-zoology:Triton’s Trumpet (Charonia tritonis) …a large species of Ranellid gastropod
astronomy-to-zoology: Triton’s Trumpet (Charonia tritonis) …a large species of Ranellid gastropod that occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific oceans, including the Red Sea. Like other tritons adult C. tritonis are predators and will feed on other molluscs and starfish, which are grasped by C. tritonis’ muscular foot and sawed with its radula. Once C. tritonis has broken through its prey item’s shell/skeleton it releases a paralyzing saliva which subdues the prey and allows C. tritonis to feed freely. Classification Animalia-Mollusca-Gastropoda-Caenogastropoda-Hypsogastropoda-Littorinimorpha-Tonnoidea-Ranellidae-Cymatinnae-Charonia-C. tritonis Image: MerlinCharon -- source link