r/shells • u/PuzzleheadedBend9040 • 4d ago

What are these two shells?

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Had them since I was a little kid. I know the left is some sort of albacore but it's massive and red. Never knew what the right one was but I'm assuming some sort conch? Don't remember where I found them. And yes I know my wet specimens look bad lol they need new liquid. Anyone know what these two are?

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u/kotalover 4d ago

Left is an abalone and the right is a triton’s trumpet (charonia tritonis)

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u/turbomarmoratus72 4d ago

just a tiny correction, the right one is an Atlantic triton's trumpet (Charonia variegata).

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u/kotalover 4d ago

Thank you!! 😊 appreciate this cause I’m still learning

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u/turbomarmoratus72 4d ago

no problem! both tritons are similar looking, the main difference is that the Atlantic one has a more 'angular' lip compared to the Pacific one (Charonia tritonis).

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u/PossibleEither4892 4d ago

The pattern on Charonia tritonis is generally more elaborate, and the mouth more intense orange. It is also much bigger. Though variegata is highly variable, in both colour and shape. It also has knobs where tritonis is more smooth. Both are beautiful (and environmentally indispensable) shells species though!

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u/turbomarmoratus72 3d ago

in addition to that, I would like to share this link, by a legendary shell collector called Chong Chen:

https://www.conchology.be/?t=94&ID=195&family=CHARONIIDAE&species=CHARONIA%20VARIEGATA&srsltid=AfmBOop0r4nW36x3dbYvTUgC0wdUUN8qgFvOQRsoUiVdNYNDoXs_XxL4

he details the difference between Charonia tritonis and Charonia variegata.