Endangered Shells
Triton Trumpet Shell
Scientific Name: Charonia tritonis
Fijian Name: ‘Davui’
The ‘davui’ is now a rare find in the Pacific, most often found at moderate depths of 5—20 meters and deeper in coral rich habitats. This snail has an important role in the reef community. It is an active predator on coral eating sea stars like the Crown of Thorns (vulawalu) and cushion stars. After locating its prey, the trumpet snail immobilizes the seastar with an injection of paralytic salivary juices, then bores through the sea star’s mesh like skeleton with sturdy radular teeth to reach the soft tissue inside.
Like other snails, the Triton trumpet has:
- a well-developed head with eyes and tentacles, a mouth on a protrusible proboscis (mouth tube);
- a broad muscular foot for crawling; and
- a soft body mass (containing the internal organs) which is protected by their shell.
Sexes are separate in the trumpet snails and fertilization is internal. The female lays a cluster of white, club-shaped capsules containing the developing snail embryos. The young hatch from the capsules as swimming veliger larvae and enter the plankton to drift in the open water.
Traditionally, Fijians use the shells as ceremonial trumpets by making a hole in the side of the shell. Similar traditional uses of this snail shell are reported throughout the islands of the Pacific, Indonesia, and Indian Ocean.
Because of the beauty and size of its shell, the Triton trumpet has been sought after by shell collectors and is now rare in Fijian waters as well as elsewhere in the Pacific. This species is protected by law in some countries including Australia and the Seychelles.
Golden Cowrie
Scientific Name Cypraea aurantium *Fijian name: bulikula’
The golden cowrie Cypraea aurantium is a gastropod with a beautiful deep gold in colour and endemic to Fiji. This is a species of concern that is at a danger of being over harvested for ornamental purposes by visiting tourists.
Lamp/Helmet Shell
Scientific Name Carciss cornuta
Fijian name: ‘davui dabe’
The Davui Dabe is a favorite tourist item. Like the trumpet shell, uncontrolled collection has led to severe depletion of existing wild populations. The gathering, taking, collecting, selling, transporting or possessing for sale of the trumpet shell and the helmet shell is prohibited.
