Murex trapa
| Murex trapa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Murex trapa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| (unranked): | clade Caenogastropoda clade Hypsogastropoda clade Neogastropoda |
| Superfamily: | Muricoidea |
| Family: | Muricidae |
| Subfamily: | Muricinae |
| Genus: | Murex |
| Species: | M. trapa |
| Binomial name | |
| Murex trapa Roding, 1798 | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Murex trapa, common name the rare-spined murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc of the family Muricidae, the rock snails. [1]
Distribution
This species is widespread from Madagascar and Mascarene Islands, South-Eastern India, Sri Lanka and the Andaman Sea to southern Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan and Southern Japan. [2][3]
Habitat
Murex trapa can be found in demersal, sandy habitats.
Description
Shells of Murex trapa can reach a length of 50–124 millimetres (2.0–4.9 in), with a diameter of 8–21 millimetres (0.31–0.83 in).[2]
These moderately large shells are fusiforms or club-shaped, with hight and acute spire and prominent spiral ridges. Shell surface is normally light brown or blue-gray with some yellowish-brown on spines. The body whorl shows three spiny varices. The aperture is lenticular, with a white interior margin and deep red-brown within. The outer apertural lip is crenulated. The sipholal canal is straight and moderately long (about 13-47 mm.). Three to four short spines are restricted to the basal half of siphonal canal. [4][5][6]
Biology
The Rare-spined Murex is an active predator, mainly feeding on other molluscs and barnacles. [6]
External links
References
- 1 2 Bouchet, P. (2015). Murex trapa Röding, 1798. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=743629 on 2015-12-23
- 1 2 Hardy's Internet Guide to Marine Gastropods
- ↑ Sealife Base
- ↑ George E. Radwin,Anthony D'Attilio Murex Shells of the World: An Illustrated Guide to the Muricidae
- ↑ Bio Search
- 1 2 Muricidae at FAO.org
Bibliography
- Cornelis Swennen, Robert Moolenbeek, N. Ruttanadakul - Molluscs of the Southern Gulf of Thailand
- F. Pinn - Sea Snails of Pondicherry
- G.E.Radwin - Murex Shells of the World: An Illustrated Guide to the Muricidae
- Houart R. (2014). Living Muricidae of the world. Muricinae. Murex, Promurex, Haustellum, Bolinus, Vokesimurex and Siratus. Harxheim: ConchBooks. 197 pp.
- Hsi-Jen Tao - Shells of Taiwan Illustrated in Colour
- Ngoc-Thach Nguyên - Shells of Vietnam
- R. Raviche lvan, T. Anandaraj and S. Ramu LENGTH –WEIGHT RELATIONSHIP of Murex trapa and Meretrix meretrix FROM MUTHUPET COASTAL WATERS IN TAMILNADU, INDIA.
- R. Tucker Abbot - Seashells of South East Asia
- Ng, T. (2015). Hong Kong Checklist of Marine Species.
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