Hexaplex fulvescens

Last updated

Hexaplex fulvescens
Hexaplex fulvescens.jpg
Shell of Hexaplex fulvescens (Sowerby, 1834), with operculum, measuring 116.9 mm in height, off Brownsville, in Texas.
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Muricidae
Genus: Hexaplex
Species:
H. fulvescens
Binomial name
Hexaplex fulvescens
(Sowerby II, 1834)
Synonyms [1]
  • Hexaplex (Muricanthus) fulvescens(G. B. Sowerby II, 1834)· accepted, alternate representation
  • Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) fulvescens (G. B. Sowerby II, 1834)· accepted, alternate representation
  • Hexaplex punctuataPerry, 1811 (nomen oblitum)
  • Murex burryiClench & Farfante, 1945
  • Murex fulvescensSowerby II, 1834
  • Murex spinicostaValenciennes in Kiener, 1843
  • Muricanthus trippaePetuch, 1991

Hexaplex fulvescens, the giant eastern murex or giant Atlantic murex or tawny murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. [1]

Contents

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. [2] [3]

Habitat

These quite uncommon sea snails live at depths of 0 to 80 m. [4]
In fact they commonly can be found in deeper waters,
but they can also be found in shallow inshore waters. [3] [5]
Commercial scallop operations out of Florida sometimes trawl this species
in 100 - 120 feet depth.

A shell of Hexaplex fulvescens from the Antilles Muricidae - Hexaplex fulvescens.JPG
A shell of Hexaplex fulvescens from the Antilles

Description

Shells of Hexaplex fulvescens can reach a size of 60–223 millimetres (2.4–8.8 in). [2] These snails are massive and spinose and they are the largest muricid snails of the Western Atlantic (hence the common name). [3] 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. [5]

Biology

Hexaplex fulvescens are active predators on other mollusks (mussels, oysters and clams). [3] They lay their eggs in capsules attached under rocks. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Hexaplex trunculus</i> Species of gastropod

Hexaplex trunculus is a medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex shells or rock snails. It is included in the subgenus Trunculariopsis.

<i>Chicoreus brevifrons</i> Species of gastropod

Chicoreus brevifrons, common name the West Indian murex, is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails.

<i>Hexaplex</i> Genus of gastropods

Hexaplex is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily muracinae of the family Muricidae, the murex shells or rock snails.

<i>Hexaplex cichoreum</i> Species of gastropod

Hexaplex cichoreum, common name the "endive murex", is a medium-sized species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex shells or rock snails.

<i>Polystira albida</i> Species of gastropod

Polystira albida, common name white giant turris, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turridae, the turrids.

<i>Phyllonotus oculatus</i> Species of gastropod

Phyllonotus oculatus, common name the oculate apple murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

<i>Chicoreus florifer</i> Species of gastropod

Chicoreus (Triplex) florifer, common name : the flowery lace murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

Dermomurex pauperculus, common name the little aspella, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

Favartia (Favartia) glypta is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

<i>Favartia macgintyi</i> Extinct species of gastropod

Favartia macgintyi, common name : McGinty's Murex, is an extinct species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

<i>Claremontiella nodulosa</i> Species of gastropod

Claremontiella nodulosa, common name: the blackberry drupe, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

<i>Muricanthus nigritus</i> Species of gastropod

Muricanthus nigritus, the Northern Radix or Black-and-White Murex or Black Murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. It is commonly known as the black murex shell.

<i>Muricanthus radix</i> Species of gastropod

Muricanthus radix, the radix murex or root murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

Paziella nuttingi, common name : Nutting's Murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

<i>Paziella pazi</i> Species of gastropod

Paziella pazi, common name : Paz's Murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

Timbellus guesti, common name : the Guest's Murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

Timbellus havanensis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

Timbellus phaneus, common name: the phaneus murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

<i>Siratus ciboney</i> Species of gastropod

Siratus ciboney is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

<i>Muricanthus</i> Genus of gastropods

Muricanthus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

References

  1. 1 2 Hexaplex fulvescens (Sowerby, 1834) . Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 24 April 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Hexaplex (Muricanthus) fulvescens". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Jaxshells.org
  4. "Filaman.uni". Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 Identification Guide to Marine Organisms of Texas
  6. Susan B. Rothschild (2004). Beachcomber's Guide to Gulf Coast Marine Life: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Taylor Trade Publications. p. 31. ISBN   978-1-58979-061-2.

Bibliography