Distorsio anus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Anal triton, 78mm
Distorsio
anus is uncommon,
usually found on seaward and lagoon reefs and pinnacles under rocks. Occasional
specimens are in lagoon
Halimeda patches. English speakers might conclude that the author of
this species, Carlos Linnaeus, must have had a strange sense of humor. However,
"anus" in Latin could mean "ring" or "old woman."
Further, Linnaeus named this shell Murex anus in 1758; forty years
later, Peter Friedrich Röding in Germany came along and moved the species
to the new genus Distorsio. So the name really might not mean what
you think.
The
individual below has just spread its egg capsules over the underside of a rock.
A young specimen.
A couple more specimens.
Created
5 August 2010
Updated 1 April 2022
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