Habitat 
Depth 
Group 
Role 
Average size
Good to knowWHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Two rows of knobs on the last whorl add detail to the knobbed triton (Charonia lampas). Its thick spiral shell may reach 40 cm and can be largely obscured by organisms growing on its surface.
The animal reveals an orange-red foot, its fleshy lower part, and two orange tentacles with black rings. Eyes sit at their bases. The operculum is the horny lid fitted to the opening.
WHERE DOES IT LIVE?
It frequents rocky seabeds, coralligenous areas and soft bottoms near hard structures. It is found from a few metres down to great depths, where it moves slowly along the bottom.
WHAT DOES IT EAT?
The triton’s trumpet feeds against a sea star or sea urchin. Its proboscis applies secretions and draws in softened tissues. Echinoderms are the best-described resource for this predator. The sequence differs from microalgal grazing: the snail remains against another animal while processing and consuming it. Seeing its proboscis against the prey can help identify feeding even though the chemical action of its secretions is not directly visible.
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