Monoplex parthenopeus

Not to be confused with Charonia tritonis.

Monoplex parthenopeus,^[3][4] common name the giant triton or giant hairy triton, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cymatiidae.^[2] It preys on other molluscs.

Monoplex parthenopeus Temporal range: Miocene - Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Apertural view of Monoplex parthenopeus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Littorinimorpha
Family:	Cymatiidae
Genus:	Monoplex
Species:	M. parthenopeus
Binomial name
Monoplex parthenopeus (Salis-Marschlins, 1793)
Synonyms[2]
Cymatium (Cabestana) parthenopius (Salis Marschlins, 1793) Cymatium (Cabestana) parthenopius var. robusta Bellatante, 1954 † Cymatium (Linatella) valentinei Olsson & Petit, 1964 Cymatium (Monoplex) echo Kuroda & Habe in Kira, 1961 Cymatium (Monoplex) echo iwakawanum sensu Kuroda & Kira Shikama, 1964 Cymatium (Monoplex) parthenopeum (Salis, 1793) Cymatium (Septa) parthenopeum (Salis Marschlins, 1793) Cymatium echo Kuroda & Habe in Kira, 1961 Cymatium parthenopeum (Von Salis, 1793) Cymatium parthenopeum parthenopeum (Salis Marschlins, 1793) Cymatium (Septa) parthenopeum (Salis Marschlins, 1793) † Cymatium doliarium var. minor Segre, 1952 Cymatium turtoni E. A. Smith, 1890 Dissentoma prima Pilsbry, 1945 Monoplex australasiae Perry, 1811 Murex costatus Born, 1778 (invalid: junior homonym of Murex costatus Pennant, 1777) Murex costulatus Risso, 1826 † Murex doliare Brocchi, 1814 Murex intermedius Brocchi, 1814 Murex parthenopus Salis-Marschlins, 1793 Ranella parthenopaeum (Salis Marschlins, 1793) (incorrect generic placement; incorrect grammatical agreement of species epithet) Ranella pyramidata Risso, 1826 Septa (Monoplex) parthenopea (Salis Marschlins, 1793) Septa (Monoplex) parthenopea echo Beu, 1970 Triton (Monoplex) fossatum Gould, 1860 Triton (Simpulum) acclivis Hutton, 1873 † Triton abbreviatus Bellardi in d'Ancona, 1872 Triton acclivis Hutton, 1873 Triton americanum d'Orbigny, 1842 Triton brasilianum Gould, 1849 Triton fossatum Gould, 1860 (doubtful synonym) † Triton olearium var. escoffierae Fontannes, 1879 Triton parthenopaeum [sic] (misspelling of Triton parthenopeum (Salis Marschlins, 1793)) Triton parthenopaeum var. antupa de Gregorio, 1885 Triton parthenopaeum var. milona de Gregorio, 1884 Triton parthenopaeum var. peribranta de Gregorio, 1884 Triton parthenopaeum var. sbilpa de Gregorio, 1885 Triton parthenopaeum var. stimum de Gregorio, 1885 Triton succinctum Lamarck, 1816 Tritonium hirsutum Franseschini, 1906

Fossil records

This species have been recorded as fossils from the Miocene to the Quaternary (from 15.97 to 0.0 million years ago).^[5]

Distribution

This species occurs worldwide including:

• The Western Atlantic Ocean^[4]
• New Zealand^[6]

Description

The maximum recorded shell length is 180 mm.^[7]

Monoplex parthenopeus (Salis Marschlins, 1793) (d\c) Canary Islands.

Habitat

Trawled 40-60 m. off Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Minimum recorded depth is 0 m.^[7] Maximum recorded depth is 75 m.^[7]

Life cycle

Hairy tritons are notable for having particularly long planktonic periods. The veliger larvae remain in the plankton for nearly 300 days, dispersing as far as 4000 km.^[8] This is the longest known larval duration and dispersal distance of any marine invertebrate which occurs along the west coast of North America.^[9]

Gallery

• 
  A shell of Monoplex parthenopeus with periostracum removed
• 
  Same shell, apertural view
• 
  Apertural view of Monoplex parthenopeus echo (Kuroda & Habe in Kira, 1961) with operculum and periostracum attached
• 
  Fossil shell of Monoplex parthenopeus from Pliocene of Italy