Tyrian purple, also known as royal purple, imperial purple, or imperial dye, is a reddish-purple natural dye. The name Tyrian refers to Tyre, Lebanon, once Phoenicia. It is secreted by several species of predatory sea snails in the family Muricidae, rock snails originally known by the name Murex. In ancient times, extracting this dye involved tens of thousands of snails and substantial labour, and as a result, the dye was highly valued. The colored compound is 6,6'-dibromoindigo.
Murex is a genus of medium to large sized predatory tropical sea snails. These are carnivorous marine gastropod molluscs in the family Muricidae, commonly called "murexes" or "rock snails".
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.
The Venus comb murex, scientific name Murex pecten, is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails. The shell of this Indo-Pacific species has a very long siphonal canal and numerous spines.
Bolinus brandaris, and commonly known as the purple dye murex or the spiny dye-murex, is a species of medium-sized predatory sea snail, an edible marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or the rock snails.
Murex forskoehlii is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails.
Murex (Murex) singaporensis is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails.
Murex troscheli, also known as Troschel's murex, is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails.
Chicoreus (Chicoreus) cornucervi, common name staghorn murex or toothed murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails.
Arene microforis is a rare species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, commonly known as murex snails. The species is found in the Indo-Pacific region, primarily in the shallow waters of the Philippines and Indonesia. The shell of Arene microforis is distinctive, featuring a distinctive pattern of ridges and furrows, and a color that ranges from light yellow to brown. The species is of interest to scientists due to its unique shell structure and the potential to provide insights into the evolution of murex snails. Arene microforis is considered to be a vulnerable species, with a limited distribution and a declining population due to habitat loss and over-collection for the shell trade.
Bolinus cornutus, or horned murex, is a predatory species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex or rock snails. This species is common along the west coast of Africa, where it prefers moderately shallow waters. The shell of the snail is distinctively large, spiny, and club-shaped, usually pale brown or tan in colour, with an elongated and straight siphonal canal.
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.
Murex kerslakae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Murex tenuirostrum is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
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.
Vokesimurex mindanaoensis, also known as Mindanao murex and Malabar murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Vokesimurex multiplicatus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Haustellum is a genus of medium-sized sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. Like many other genera within the Muricidae, the genus has been redefined several times.
Lindapterys is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
In the shell of gastropod mollusks, the lip is the free margin of the peristome or aperture of the gastropod shell.
