Homalocantha anatomica | |
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Four views of a shell of Homalocantha anatomica | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Gastropoda |
Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
Order: | Neogastropoda |
Family: | Muricidae |
Genus: | Homalocantha |
Species: | H. anatomica |
Binomial name | |
Homalocantha anatomica (Perry, 1811) | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Homalocantha anatomica (common name: "Pele's Murex" or "Anatomical Murex") is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. [1] [2]
This species occurs in the Red Sea and throughout the Indo-Western Pacific, from Japan, Philippines and Fiji to the Hawaiian Islands. [3] [4] [5]
Adult shell size of Homalocantha anatomica varies between 38 mm and 63 mm. [3] These shells are solid, whitish in color, sometimes tinted with yellow or red and moderately light in weight, with five to six varices per whorl. Aperture is small and white or pink. Labial lip shows irregular denticles. Columella is smooth and siphonal canal is moderately long. [4]
These sea snails feed primarily on boring mussels in reef rocks.
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 over 1,700 living species, the Muricidae represent almost 10% of the Neogastropoda. Additionally, 1,200 fossil species have been recognized. Numerous subfamilies are recognized, although experts disagree about the subfamily divisions and the definitions of the genera. Many muricids have unusual shells which are considered attractive by shell collectors and by interior designers.
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.
Murex brevispina, also known as the Short-spined murex, is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails.
Nassarius concinnus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Nassariidae, the nassa mud snails or dog whelks.
Babelomurex couturieri is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Babelomurex japonicus, common name the Japanese latiaxis, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Chicoreus microphyllus, common name the curly murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Coralliophila basileus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Usilla avenacea is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Lataxiena fimbriata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Nassarius deshayesianus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Nassariidae, the nassa mud snails (USA) or dog whelks (UK).
Homalocantha is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Lataxiena is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Clypeomorus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Cerithiinae of the family Cerithiidae.
Pustularia cicercula is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.
Gibberulus gibberulus, common name the humpbacked conch, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.
Phalium faurotis is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cassidae, the helmet snails and bonnet snails.
Pardalinops is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Columbellidae; the dove snails.
Muricopsinae is a taxonomic subfamily of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks within the large family Muricidae, the murex snails and rock snails.
Gibberulus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.