Diemyctylus viridescens
(gcide) | Triton \Tri"ton\ (tr[imac]"t[o^]n), n. [L., fr. Gr. Tri`twn.]
(Gr. Myth.)
A fabled sea demigod, the son of Neptune and Amphitrite, and
the trumpeter of Neptune. He is represented by poets and
painters as having the upper part of his body like that of a
man, and the lower part like that of a fish. He often has a
trumpet made of a shell.
[1913 Webster]
Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea,
Or hear old Triton blow his wreathed horn.
--Wordsworth.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Zool.) Any one of many species of marine gastropods
belonging to Triton and allied genera, having a stout
spiral shell, often handsomely colored and ornamented with
prominent varices. Some of the species are among the
largest of all gastropods. Called also trumpet shell,
and sea trumpet.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of aquatic
salamanders. The common European species are
Hemisalamandra cristata, Molge palmata, and {Molge
alpestris}, a red-bellied species common in Switzerland.
The most common species of the United States is
Diemyctylus viridescens. See Illust. under Salamander.
[1913 Webster] |