''Murex tribulus'', the caltrop murex, is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), 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 ...
of large predatory
sea snail, a
marine
Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean.
Marine or marines may refer to:
Ocean
* Maritime (disambiguation)
* Marine art
* Marine biology
* Marine debris
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* Marine life
* Marine pollution
Military
* ...
gastropod mollusc 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 Ne ...
, the rock snails or murex snails.
[Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.-P. (Ed.); Frýda J., Hausdorf B., Ponder W., Valdes A. & Warén A. 2005.]
and nomenclator of gastropod families''. Malacologia: International Journal of Malacology, 47(1-2).
. ISSN 0076-2997. 397 pp. - ConchBooks: Hackenheim, Germany.
Description
The shell of ''Murex tribulus'' can reach a length of . This quite common snail has a shell with a very long siphonal canal and numerous very long, fragile and acute spines, providing protection against predators. It feeds on other mollusks.
Distribution
This species is widespread from Central Indian Ocean to Western Pacific Ocean.
References
*
BiolibEncyclopaedia of Life
Gastropods described in 1758
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Murex
{{Muricinae-stub