Charonia tritonis

Maximum length: 50 cm

Formerly used as a horn.

Populations are disappearing due to heavy collecting. 

Hurghada Egypt

Size: 4.5 - 11.5 cm

Depth: 5 - 20 m

Like most of this species, they are mainly nocturnal

and parasitise on sleeping fish, mostly parrotfish.

They use an extremely long proboscis to pierce the mucus covering

that the parrotfish produce at night for protection

and then pierce the fish to suck blood for nourishment.

Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum size: 2 - 4.5 cm

Depth: - 13 m

Unfortunately only the shell, here a hermit has found a new home.

Normally the shell has dark brown ribs and an orange background,

but there are different color variants.

Active hunter of other molluscs, such as other shell snails, mussels and nudibranchs.

Mainly found in reefs and lagoons.

Bangka island North Sulawesi

Maximum size: 2.5 - 5.5 cm

Depth: 0.5 - 145 m

Quite variable in color, the shell light or dark red, orange or brown,

with a small white or yellowish transverse band on the coils

and with small white spots on the varices.

The outer lip is provided with 8 - 10 white, prominent teeth.

The columella is reddish, the inner surface of the opening is white.

The periostracum is yellow-brown.

The siphonal canal is moderately long, the body very firm and ovoid.

The six convex coils are provided with nodules.

This predatory shell snail feeds on molluscs.

Occurrence:  In various habitats such as lagoons, reefs, sand and coral substrates.

Bangka island North Sulawesi