A varix is an anatomical feature of the shell of certain sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs. Gastropods whose shells have varices are primarily families and species within the taxonomic groups Littorinimorpha and Neogastropoda.
The gastropod shell is part of the body of a gastropod or snail, a kind of mollusc. The shell is an exoskeleton, which protects from predators, mechanical damage, and dehydration, but also serves for muscle attachment and calcium storage. Some gastropods appear shell-less (slugs) but may have a remnant within the mantle, or in some cases the shell is reduced such that the body cannot be retracted within it (semi-slug). Some snails also possess an operculum that seals the opening of the shell, known as the aperture, which provides further protection. The study of mollusc shells is known as conchology. The biological study of gastropods, and other molluscs in general, is malacology. Shell morphology terms vary by species group.
Zeatrophon ambiguus common name the large trophon, is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails.
Pteropurpura trialata, the three-winged murex, is a medium-sized species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails. It is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Admetula garrardi is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cancellariidae, the nutmeg snails.
Vexillum spicatum, common name the spiked mitre, is a species of small sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters.
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.
Phyllonotus pomum, the apple murex, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Chicoreus dunni is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Favartia lindae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Favartia (Murexiella) taylorae taylorae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Pygmaepterys aliceae is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Morula lepida is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Murexsul harasewychi is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Chicoreus loebbeckei is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. The holotype for this species is preserved in the Aquazoo Löbbecke Museum in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Vokesimurex messorius, common name the Mesorius murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Vokesimurex sobrinus is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Vokesimurex tryoni is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Maxwellia is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Lotoria grandimaculata, common name : the large spotted triton, is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cymatiidae.
