MolluscaBase - Charonia lampas (Linnaeus, 1758)

(of Murex lampas Linnaeus, 1758) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 748 [details] Available for editors

Type data

Note Mediterranean Sea

From editor or global species database

Type locality Mediterranean Sea [details]

Descriptive notes

Distribution Eastern Atlantic, from the English Channel to Morocco and in scattered occurrences as far south as Angola; Canary Islands,...

Distribution Eastern Atlantic, from the English Channel to Morocco and in scattered occurrences as far south as Angola; Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores; Seine, Josephine and Amp�re seamounts; Mediterranean only in the Western Basin. Western Atlantic, on the Brazilian coast. Other populations, which may be recognized as distinct subspecies, are found in Australia, Taiwan and Japan. [details]

Taxonomic citation

MolluscaBase eds. (2025). MolluscaBase. Charonia lampas (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: Costello, M.J.; Bouchet, P.; Boxshall, G.; Arvanitidis, C.; Appeltans, W. (2025) European Register of Marine Species at: https://marbef.org/data/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=141101 on 2025-05-17

Regional species database citation

Costello, M.J.; Bouchet, P.; Boxshall, G.; Arvanitidis, C.; Appeltans, W. (2025). European Register of Marine Species. Charonia lampas (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed at: https://www.vliz.be/vmdcdata/narms/narms.php?p=taxdetails&id=141101 on 2025-05-17

Taxonomic edit history

Date

action

2004-12-21 15:54:05Z

created

Gofas, Serge

2015-01-16 10:00:55Z

changed

Marshall, Bruce

2019-09-20 18:39:10Z

changed

Vinarski, Maxim

[taxonomic tree]

original description (of Charonia mirabilis Parenzan, 1970) Parenzan, P. (1970-1976). Carta d'identit� delle conchiglie del Mediterraneo. Taranto, Bios Taras. Vol. 1 (Gasteropodi): 1-283 [1970]. Vol. 2 parte 1 (Bivalvi): 1-277 con 46 tav. [1974]. Vol. 2 parte 2 (Bivalvi): 283-546 con 56 tav. [1976]. Vol. 3 (Bibliografia): 1-50.
page(s): 156-158; pl. 32 fig. 615 [details]

original description (of Murex lampas Linnaeus, 1758) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 748 [details] Available for editors

original description (of Triton nodiferum Lamarck, 1822) Lamarck, [J.-B. M.] de. (1822). Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vert�bres. Tome septi�me, 711 pp. Paris, published by the author. , available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/47433
page(s): 179 [details]

original description (of Tritonium glabrum Locard, 1886) Locard, A. (1886). Prodrome de malacologie fran�aise. Catalogue g�n�ral des mollusques vivants de France. Mollusques marins. Lyon: H. Georg & Paris: Bailli�re. x + 778 pp. , available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10831012
page(s): 154, 558 [details]

original description (of Murex gyrinoides Brocchi, 1814 †) Brocchi, G. B. (1814). Conchiologia fossile subapennina con osservazioni geologiche sugli Apennini e sul suolo adiacente. Tomo primo. pp. 1-56, I-LXXV, 1-240. Milano, Stamperia Reale., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12001697
page(s): 401, pl. 9, fig. 9 [details]

original description (of Triton gyrinoides var. ficarazzensis De Gregorio, 1884) De Gregorio, A. (1884-1885). Studi su talune conchiglie mediterranee viventi e fossili con una rivista del genere Vulsella. Bullettino della Societ� Malacologica Italiana. 10(1-4): 36-64, pls 1-3 [10 August 1884]; 65-128, pls 4-5 [20 November 1884]; 10(9-19): 129-288 [30 April 1885]., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38908552
page(s): 100 [details]

original description (of Triton gyrinoides var. imperans De Gregorio, 1884) De Gregorio, A. (1884-1885). Studi su talune conchiglie mediterranee viventi e fossili con una rivista del genere Vulsella. Bullettino della Societ� Malacologica Italiana. 10(1-4): 36-64, pls 1-3 [10 August 1884]; 65-128, pls 4-5 [20 November 1884]; 10(9-19): 129-288 [30 April 1885]., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38908552
page(s): 100 [details]

original description (of Triton gyrinoides var. labroplita De Gregorio, 1884) De Gregorio, A. (1884-1885). Studi su talune conchiglie mediterranee viventi e fossili con una rivista del genere Vulsella. Bullettino della Societ� Malacologica Italiana. 10(1-4): 36-64, pls 1-3 [10 August 1884]; 65-128, pls 4-5 [20 November 1884]; 10(9-19): 129-288 [30 April 1885]., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38908552
page(s): 99 [details]

original description (of Triton gyrinoides f. cochleosocia De Gregorio, 1893) Gregorio, A. de. (1893). Iconographia conchiologia Mediterranea vivente e Terziaria. III fascicolo. Muricidae parte I (Tritoninae parte I). Illustrazione del Triton gyrinoides (Brocc.) de Greg. (= nodiferum Lamk.). Annales de G�ologie et de Pal�ontologie. 11: 1�20.
page(s): Triton gyrinoides f. cochleosocia [details]

original description (of Triton gyrinoides var. singilla De Gregorio, 1884) De Gregorio, A. (1884-1885). Studi su talune conchiglie mediterranee viventi e fossili con una rivista del genere Vulsella. Bullettino della Societ� Malacologica Italiana. 10(1-4): 36-64, pls 1-3 [10 August 1884]; 65-128, pls 4-5 [20 November 1884]; 10(9-19): 129-288 [30 April 1885]., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38908552
page(s): 100-101 [details]

original description (of Triton gyrinoides var. inflectilabrum De Gregorio, 1884) De Gregorio, A. (1884-1885). Studi su talune conchiglie mediterranee viventi e fossili con una rivista del genere Vulsella. Bullettino della Societ� Malacologica Italiana. 10(1-4): 36-64, pls 1-3 [10 August 1884]; 65-128, pls 4-5 [20 November 1884]; 10(9-19): 129-288 [30 April 1885]., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38908552
page(s): 99 [details]

original description (of Triton gyrinoides f. carinata De Gregorio, 1893) Gregorio, A. de. (1893). Iconographia conchiologia Mediterranea vivente e Terziaria. III fascicolo. Muricidae parte I (Tritoninae parte I). Illustrazione del Triton gyrinoides (Brocc.) de Greg. (= nodiferum Lamk.). Annales de G�ologie et de Pal�ontologie. 11: 1�20. [details]

original description (of Simpulum nodiferum var. minima Pallary, 1900) Pallary, P. (1900). Coquilles marines du littoral du d�partement d'Oran. Journal de Conchyliologie. 48(3): 211-422., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25146965 [details]

original description (of Simpulum nodiferum var. major Pallary, 1900) Pallary, P. (1900). Coquilles marines du littoral du d�partement d'Oran. Journal de Conchyliologie. 48(3): 211-422., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25146965 [details]

original description (of Triton nodiferum var. glabra Weinkauff, 1868) Weinkauff, H. C. (1867). Die Conchylien des Mittelmeeres, ihre geographische und geologische Verbreitung. T. Fischer, Cassel Vol. 1: pp. XIX + 307 [1867], Vol. 2: pp. VI + 512 [1868]., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/49636970 [details]

original description (of Tritonium mediterraneum Risso, 1826) Risso, A. (1826-1827). Histoire naturelle des principales productions de l'Europe M�ridionale et particuli�rement de celles des environs de Nice et des Alpes Maritimes. [book series]. 400 pp., 13 pls. [volumes 1-5. Paris, F.G. Levrault. vol. 3. Mammif�res. Oiseaux. Poissons / vol. 4. Mollusques. Ann�lides / vol. 5. Crustac�s. Myriapodes, scorpionides, arachnides et acarides. Insectes. Vers intestinaux. Radiaires. Zoophytes]., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/58984 [details]

original description (of Tritonium opis R�ding, 1798) R�ding, P. F. (1798). Museum Boltenianum sive Catalogus cimeliorum e tribus regnis natur� qu� olim collegerat Joa. Fried Bolten, M. D. p. d. per XL. annos proto physicus Hamburgensis. Pars secunda continens Conchylia sive Testacea univalvia, bivalvia & multivalvia. Trapp, Hamburg, viii + 199 pp., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16230659 [details]

additional source Beu, A. G. (1998). R�sultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM: 19. Indo-West Pacific Ranellidae, Bursidae and Personidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda), a monograph of the New Caledonian fauna and revisions of related taxa. M�moires du Mus�um National d'Histoire Naturelle. 178: 1-255., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/58988686
page(s): 69-73 [details]

additional source Spencer, H.G., Marshall, B.A. & Willan, R.C. (2009). Checklist of New Zealand living Mollusca. Pp 196-219. in: Gordon, D.P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch. [details]

additional source Beu, A. G. (2010). Neogene tonnoidean gastropods of tropical and South America: contributions to the Dominican Republic and Panama Paleontology Projects and uplift of the Central American Isthmus. Bulletins of American Paleontology. 377-378: 1-550.
page(s): 120 [details] Available for editors

additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. China Science Press. 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors

additional source Maxwell, P. A. (2009). Cenozoic Mollusca. Pp 232-254 in Gordon, D. P. (ed.) New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Volume one. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch. [details]

additional source Herbert, D.G., Jones, G.J. & Atkinson, L.J. (2018). Phylum Mollusca. In: Atkinson, L.J. and Sink, K.J. (eds) Field Guide to the Offshore Marine Invertebrates of South Africa. Malachite Marketing and Media: Pretoria. Pp. 249�320. , available online at http://doi.org/10.15493/SAEON.PUB.10000001
page(s): 265 [details]

additional source Landau, B.; Harzhauser, M.; Beu, A. G. (2009). A Revision of the Tonnoidea (Caenogastropoda, Gastropoda) from the Miocene Paratethys and their Palaeobiogeographic Implications. Jahrbuch der Geologischen Bundesanstalt. 149(1): 61-109., available online at http://opac.geologie.ac.at/wwwopacx/wwwopac.ashx?command=getcontent&server=images&value=JB1491_061_A.pdf [details] Available for editors

additional source Beu, A. G. (1976). New records of Cymatiidae (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) from Kapitean to Castlecliffian (Late Miocene to Early Pleistocene) rocks of East Cape District, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 19: 297-310.
page(s): 299 [details]

additional source Beu, A. G. (1976). Arrival of Semicassis pyrum (Lamarck) and other tonnacean gastropods in the Southern Ocean during Pleistocene time. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 6 (4): 413-432.
page(s): 423 [details]

additional source Darragh, T. A. (2024). A checklist of Australian marine Cenozoic Mollusca. Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 83: 37-206.
page(s): 81 [details] Available for editors

Present

Inaccurate

Introduced: alien

Containing type locality

From editor or global species database

Biology Type of larval development: planktotrophic, with long-lived (teleplanic) pelagic larvae [details]

Diagnosis Shell large, up to 400 mm on mainland locations, to 200 mm in island and seamount sites. Protoconch multispiral, normally eroded except on very juvenile specimens. Teleoconch of 8-9 whorls with a moderately high, conical spire and convex whorls, the last one ample and making up slightly more than two-thirds of the total height. Spire whorls vaguely shouldered, with very flat spiral cords separated by poorly defined, rather narrow interspaces, the shoulder covered by a much broader and flatter cord and commonly, but not always, bearing a spiral series of knobs, paralelled to the abapical side by lesser flat cords with or without spiral rows of knobs.
Aperture large, oval in shape, with an elaborate peristome; outer lip flaring, thickened at a short distance from the edge and with internal denticles; inner part of the peristome with an appressed parietal callus continued into a foliated columellar callus, which has a raised edge overhanging the siphonal canal on large specimens, and bears indistinct ridges towards the edge. Colour pattern very characteristic, with articulated spiral bands of light patches on the knobs and dark brown in the interspaces, alternating with medium brown uniform bands. Peristome white with dark brown denticles on the outer lip and a brownish to reddish hue on the edge of columellar callus.
[details]

Type locality Mediterranean Sea [details]

Definitions