Often Overlooked

Triviidae, Trivirostra oryza Lamark, 1822. This is a very small shell, up to about 7mm, somewhat elongated globular, and the color is pure white all over its surface. The live animal is brown with some whitish patches which make it very hard to see in its natural habitat under rocks and rubble. The spire is entirely hidden beneath the last whorl, as in cowries. Many fine ribs spirally cross the dorsal surface, leaving a longitudinal groove at its center. The aperture is narrow and dentate on both lips. Trivia oryza is found in shallow water in Apra Harbor at about 5-10' and also in deep water along Orote Cliffs at about 50-70 feet.

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Additional Reading

Several Trivia are found on Guam and their identification presents something of a challenge. For additional photos and info about the family go to the Triviidae page in the ID section