Family TRITONIIDAE Lamarck, 1809

Family Tritoniidae. Tritoniopsis elegans.(from Beesley, Ross & Wells 1998) [S. Weidland]

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Regional Maps

Introduction

World-wide, tritoniids range in size from less than 5 mm to almost 300mm. All tritoniids have a series of tree-like branched branchial processes along either side of the back. The back may be narrow and the processes relatively few in number, or the back may be broad and dorid-like, with numerous small processes along the edge. The rhinophores and their sheaths closely resemble the branchial processes in colour, shape and size. Internally, the stomach is mostly armed by a band of gastral plates. Tritoniids eat soft corals, and are often food specific.

[Compiled from Burn (in press 2012)]

General References

Beesley, P.L., Ross, G.J.B. & Wells, A. (eds) 1998. Mollusca: The Southern Synthesis. Fauna of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing Vol. 5(Part B) pp. vi–viii, 565–1234. [1001]

Burn, R. 2006. A checklist and bibliography of the Opisthobranchia (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of Victoria and the Bass Strait area, south-eastern Australia. Museum Victoria Science Report 10: 1-42

History of changes