Monoplex nicobaricus (Röding, 1798)
Nicobar triton, 87mm

Monoplex nicobaricus is common in a variety of lagoon and seaward reef habitats, from the intertidal down to at least 25m. In lagoon Halimeda patches it is often found preying upon other gastropods, often "horn shells" in the Cerithiidae, as in the second and third photos below.

Both of the specimens below were found on egg masses, but the egg masses looked a lot different. In at least one of the cases (probably the lower shot), the triton was most likely eating someone else's eggs.

The one below is eating an Oxymeris crenulata.

Created 5 August 2010
Updated 14 March 2020

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