The Giant Triton: List the Giant Triton in Appendix 2 of CITES

 



While the giant triton may be protected on the Great Barrier Reef and elsewhere in Queensland, there is still no evidence this protection has resulted in restored populations of the giant triton. However, there is evidence of continuing illegal collection and trade in Indonesia where it is also legally protected.
It is now worth reconsidering whether the existing local protection is sufficient or whether further international protection is required by listing the Giant Triton in Appendix 2 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The giant triton (Charonia tritonis)is a beautiful shell and a well-known predator of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci). In many parts of the third world, it is still being collected in large numbers and sold to tourists as ornaments. As you admire the beautiful shell, spare a thought for the hungry mollusc that died. And don’t forget, they live on starfish.
Many species of starfish are known to outbreak in different parts of the world. Prior to human collection, the giant triton might have controlled starfish numbers not by eating the many, but by preventing the aggregation that precedes the outbreak. At present, little is known of any aspect of the triton’s ecology despite its obvious importance in controlling starfish numbers.

Comments

  1. John PatersonDecember 9, 2023 at 3:13 PM

    Here is a summary of the web page:

    - **The Giant Triton**: This is a report by John Paterson, a researcher who studies the giant triton (Charonia tritonis), a large marine snail that preys on the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), a coral reef predator.
    - **Research Findings**: The report summarizes Paterson's findings from various field experiments and surveys conducted between 1986 and 2023, which show that the giant triton can affect the aggregation and fertilization success of the crown-of-thorns starfish, and thus potentially reduce its population and impact on coral reefs.
    - **Triton Conservation**: The report also describes Paterson's efforts to conserve and restore the giant triton population, which has been depleted by overharvesting for its shell and meat. He has initiated projects on triton domestic trade, triton aquaculture, and triton CITES listing.
    - **References**: The web page contains many references to scientific papers, reports, and websites related to the giant triton and the crown-of-thorns starfish. It also provides the ISBN number and the cover image of the report.

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  2. John PatersonDecember 9, 2023 at 3:15 PM

    Yes, there are other predators of the crown-of-thorns starfish, besides the ones mentioned in the web search results. According to a study by Rivera-Posada and colleagues, some of these predators are:

    - The harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera picta), which can kill and consume crown-of-thorns starfish by severing their tube feet and feeding on their soft tissues.
    - The coral banded shrimp (Stenopus hispidus), which can also attack and eat crown-of-thorns starfish by cutting their spines and tube feet with their claws.
    - The polychaete worm (Pherecardia striata), which can bore into the body of crown-of-thorns starfish and feed on their internal organs.
    - The nudibranch (Chelidonura hirundinina), which can prey on the eggs and larvae of crown-of-thorns starfish by using its radula (a toothed tongue) to scrape them off the substrate.

    These predators are usually small and cryptic, and may not have a significant impact on the population of crown-of-thorns starfish. However, they may play a role in controlling the local density and distribution of the starfish, and may also provide a source of food for other reef animals. : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022098113003470

    Source: Conversation with Bing, 09/12/2023
    (1) Crown-of-thorns starfish | AIMS. https://www.aims.gov.au/research-topics/marine-life/crown-thorns-starfish.
    (2) What Eats the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish? The Evidence Is in the Poop. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-eats-crown-thorns-starfish-evidence-poop-180975068/.
    (3) Crown of Thorns Starfish - American Oceans. https://www.americanoceans.org/species/crown-of-thorns-starfish/.
    (4) Crown-Of-Thorns Starfish Facts You Never Knew - ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/crown-of-thorns-starfish-2291456.

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