PHYLUM: Mollusca
CLASS: Gastropoda
SPECIES: Trivia californiana
COMMON NAME: California trivia
Trivias are closely related to cowries, which they resemble. The general shape of the shell is similar, but trivias tend to be small, and they have distinctive raised ridges on their shells, radiating down from a dorsal groove.
Not much is known about the specific biology of the California trivia, but trivia species from other areas are know to eat tunicates. In fact, the bright orange crust on which these trivias are pictured here is a tunicate colony.
The California trivia is relatively small (11mm). It is actually fairly common, but often overlooked due to its small size and dark color.