Marine Wildlife Encyclopedia
Giant Triton Charonia tritonis
The giant triton is a gastropod that is one of the very few animals that eats the crown-of-thorns starfish, itself a voracious predator and destroyer of coral reefs. The giant triton is an active hunter that will chase prey, such as starfish, mollusks, and sea stars, once it has been detected. It uses its muscular single foot to hold its victim down while it cuts through any protective covering using its serrated, tonguelike radula; the giant triton then releases paralyzing saliva into the body before eating the subdued prey.
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- Class Gastropoda
- Length Up to 16 in (40 cm)
- Habitat Coral reef, sandy substrate, intertidal and subtidal zones
- Distribution Indian Ocean, western and central Pacific
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