簡介:"大法螺Charonia tritonis 大法螺Charonia tritonis是法螺科中最大的物種,也是腹足類中最大的物種之一,殼長可達45公分,螺塔高而尖,體螺層膨,螺肋寬扁圓滑;殼為淡黃褐色或淺褐色,螺肋上有許多弦月形的紫褐色斑,殼口大,內部為橘黃色至紅色,軸襞為白色,間隔處為深褐色。動物的軟體為紅色,頭觸角上有黑色帶。 大法螺是廣為人知的一個物種,在古代被用作號角。零星分布於印度-西太平洋地區。在台灣數量稀少,主要產於恆春半島、小琉球、蘭嶼、綠島及臺灣東岸。因大法螺會捕食棘冠海星 (棘冠海星會吃造礁珊瑚),所以大法螺在澳洲昆士蘭受到法律保護。大法螺Charonia tritonisIntroductionCharonia tritonis is the largest species of sea snail of the Ranellidae family, and one of the largest Gastropods. Its shell can reach as long as 45 cm ; the shell apex is tall and pointy; the body whorl is wide; the ribs are smooth and flat; the shell is colored pale yellowish brown or pale brown; there are new-moon shaped purplish brown spots on the ribs; the aperture is wide, the interior is colored orange-yellow to red; lirae is white and the sutures are dark brown; the body of the mollusk is red, and there are black bandings on the tentacles. Charonia tritonis is a widely known species. Its shell was used as a trumpet in old days. This species is sparsely distributed in India and Western Pacific regions. It is rarely found in Taiwan, existing mainly in the Hengchun Peninsula, Liuqiu Island, Orchid Island, Green Island and Taiwan's Eastern coast. Charonia tritonis has earned protective status in Queensland Australia for its feeding of crown-of-thorn star fish, a large star fish that prey on coral polyps."