Charonia lampas (Linnaeus, 1758) is a gastropod mollusc, belonging to the Charoniidae family, characterized by large shells, also called “newts”. C. lampas was also reported in the past as Charonia nodofera (Lamarck, 1822) or Triton nodoferum (Lamarck, 1822), as in the specimen depicted here, now considered synonyms. It is a carnivorous species (mainly eats ophiura and starfish) which can reach 30 cm in length and is found throughout the Mediterranean Sea.
C. lampas has frequently been found in prehistoric contexts, where it was probably used as a wind instrument or “horn”. The main threat to this species has remained man who has always collected it indiscriminately, making it extremely rare and difficult to observe in its environment.
The specimen depicted here is part of the zoological collections of the DISTAV, of the University of Genoa.
This model was realized by Glenda Cantale during the Universal Civil Service (SCU) at the Genoa University.
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