''Hexaplex fulvescens'', the giant eastern murex or giant Atlantic murex or tawny murex, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of sea snail, a marine gastropod

mollusk Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as murex snails or rock snails. With about 1,600 living species, the Muricidae represent almost 10% of the Neoga ...

, the murex snails or rock snails.

Distribution

This species is native to the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Cape Canaveral, Florida and it is also present in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida west to Texas. Jaxshells.org
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Habitat

These quite uncommon sea snails live at depths of 0 to 80 m.
In fact they commonly can be found in deeper waters,
but they can also be found in shallow inshore waters.
Commercial scallop operations out of Florida sometimes trawl this species
in 100 - 120 feet depth.

Description

Shells of ''Hexaplex fulvescens'' can reach a size of . These snails are massive and spinose and they are the largest muricid snails of the Western Atlantic (hence the common name). They have several straight or bifurcate spines arranged in 6-10 radial rows with spiraling ridges. Snail surface may be whitish, grayish or pale brown, the aperture is oval with crenulate edges. The siphonal canal is short.Identification Guide to Marine Organisms of Texas
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Biology

''Hexaplex fulvescens'' are active predators on other mollusks (mussels, oysters and clams). They lay their eggs in capsules attached under rocks.

References

* Kiener, L.-C., 1842-43 Genre Rocher (Murex), Linné. Volume 7. In: Spécies général et iconographie des coquilles vivantes. Famille des canalifères, p. 130 pp

Bibliography

* G. E. Radwin - Murex Shells of the World: An Illustrated Guide to the Muricidae * National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashells * Turgeon, D. D., J. F. Quinn Jr., A. E. Bogan, E. V. Coan, F. G. Hochberg, W. G. Lyons, et al. (1998) Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Mollusks, 2nd ed., American Fisheries Society Special Publication 26 {{DEFAULTSORT:Hexaplex Fulvescens Muricinae Gastropods described in 1834