Large Triton's Trumpet Taxidermy full body mount - Charonia tritonia - 18 cm - 43 cm - 14 cm - Non-CITES species

Charonia tritonia. The common name "Triton's trumpet" comes from the Greek god Triton, son of the sea god Poseidon. The god Triton is in fact often depicted blowing a large shell horn similar to this species. This genus is known in fossil remains since the Cretaceous Period, in marine layers throughout the world. Adult newts are predators and their diet consists mainly of molluscs and starfish. The giant newt is famous for its ability to capture and eat even the "crown of thorns" starfish covered in poisonous spikes. Newts hunt them when they smell prey. Being faster, starfish have little chance of escape and the few that manage to escape have to let go of the arm that the snail grabs first. Then, the newt grabs its prey with its muscular foot and uses its serrated radula (a serrated, rasping organ typical of gastropods) to cut into the starfish's armored epidermis. Once penetrated, a paralyzing saliva subdues the prey and the snail feeds as it pleases, often starting with the softest parts such as the gonads and intestines. Furthermore, newts ingest entire smaller animals without worrying about paralyzing them, subsequently eliminating poisonous spines, shells and all other unwanted parts. This lot offers a beautiful specimen of giant tritonia equipped with an operculum. The shell shows a slight difference in the periostracum due to growth. We are talking about a tritonia that probably could have reached even more notable dimensions.
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