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Murex
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<h2 id="etymology">Etymology</h2> <p>The term murex originates from the Latin word <i>mūrex,</i> likely related to the Greek word μύαξ (<i>myax</i>), meaning <a href="/facts/Mussel/SNdrkjfl">sea mussel</a>. The connection between these terms suggests a shared linguistic root, possibly linked to the Greek word μῦς (<i>mys</i>), meaning "mouse," due to the perceived resemblance between the shape of certain mollusks and mice.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="fossil-records">Fossil records</h2> <p>This genus is known in the fossil records from the <a href="/facts/Cretaceous/nwKtFtKx">Cretaceous</a> to the <a href="/facts/Quaternary/3cEgHAqc">Quaternary</a> (age range: from 125.45 to 0.0 million years ago). Fossils of species within this genus have been found all over the world. There are about 25 known extinct species.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="distribution">Distribution</h2> <p><i>Murex</i> is solely an <a href="/facts/Indo-Pacific/pVfP1gxV">Indo-Pacific</a> genus, as demonstrated by <a href="/facts/Winston_Ponder/HxrxvqYb">Ponder</a> & Vokes (1988). The species from the western <a href="/facts/Atlantic/EI4uChIb">Atlantic</a> that were formerly considered to belong to the genus <i>Murex</i> are now placed in the genus <i><a href="/facts/Haustellum/nUPLBbdL">Haustellum</a></i>. </p> <h2 id="habitat">Habitat</h2> <p>Most <i>Murex</i> species live in the <a href="/facts/Intertidal/grnBDVQ3">intertidal</a> or shallow subtidal zone, among rocks and corals. </p> <h2 id="shell-description">Shell description</h2> <p>This genus includes many showy members, their elongate shells highly <a href="/facts/Sculpture_(mollusc)/ItKqmXCc">sculptured</a> with spines or fronds. The inner surfaces of their ornate shells are often brightly colored. </p> <h2 id="human-use">Human use</h2> <p>Costly and labor-intensive dyes <a href="/facts/Tyrian_purple/gwCmPKbz">Tyrian purple</a> (or "royal purple") and <a href="/facts/Tekhelet/L2r7D74j">tekhelet</a> were historically made by the ancient <a href="/facts/Phoenicians/6GXLneNU">Phoenicians</a>, using mucus from the <a href="/facts/Hypobranchial_gland/5lwayVff">hypobranchial gland</a> of two species commonly referred to as "murex", <i>Murex brandaris</i> and <i>Murex trunculus</i>, which are the older names for <i><a href="/facts/Bolinus_brandaris/APmEFaEB">Bolinus brandaris</a></i> and <i><a href="/facts/Hexaplex_trunculus/w1qNFv4N">Hexaplex trunculus</a></i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> This dye is a rare animal-produced <a href="/facts/Organobromine_compound/7v9NP0Ak">organobromine compound</a>, which the snails make using a specific <a href="/facts/Bromide_peroxidase/T9h1L23y">bromide peroxidase</a> enzyme that operates on dissolved <a href="/facts/Bromide/bHSfxGk1">bromide</a> in sea water.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>This dye was used in <a href="/facts/Monarchy/Kg1vY7tt">royal</a> robes, other kinds of special <a href="/facts/Ceremonial/c5NTgepr">ceremonial</a> or ritual garments, or garments indicating high <a href="/facts/Imperial%2c_royal_and_noble_ranks/aIUxhIXf">rank</a>. It is hypothesised that the dye was the same dye as that which featured prominently in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, the clothing of the <a href="/facts/High_Priest_of_Israel/vIUJTrI2">High Priest of Israel</a> officiating there; it is sometimes still used by Jews today in the ritual fringes (<a href="/facts/Tzitzit/CGC0JtxA">tzitzit</a>) on four-cornered garments.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> A consensus has yet to be reached regarding the Biblical source of the "blue" dye, though the latest archeological research on dyes in this region indicates that it was indeed the Murex trunculus snail that was used for the famous <a href="/facts/Tekhelet/L2r7D74j">tekhelet</a> ancient dye.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="species">Species</h2> <p>The genus <i>Murex</i>, as originally defined by <a href="/facts/Carl_Linnaeus/gy5HWkHS">Linnaeus</a>, encompassed many taxa that are now placed elsewhere in the superfamily <a href="/facts/Muricoidea/S2kzeVC5">Muricoidea</a>. During the 19th century, the definition of <i>Murex</i> was restricted by <a href="/facts/Jean-Baptiste_Lamarck/3lxaPmqM">Lamarck</a> and his contemporaries first to species in the family Muricidae, and then was limited even further to the subfamilies <a href="/facts/Muricinae/r7dlsQVm">Muricinae</a> and <a href="/facts/Ocenebrinae/YN3CVf29">Ocenebrinae</a>. Malacologists of the 19th century including <a href="/facts/Louis_Charles_Kiener/gw4fAfbL">Kiener</a>, <a href="/facts/Lovell_Augustus_Reeve/0cSkJNd1">Reeve</a>, Küster & <a href="/facts/Wilhelm_Kobelt/zhRJxTs0">Kobelt</a> and Sowerby treated all muricoid forms as belonging to <i>Murex</i>. This is the main reason why <i>Murex</i> has so many synonyms. </p><p>The <a href="/facts/World_Register_of_Marine_Species/lfmyq6bH">World Register of Marine Species</a> (WoRMS) lists the following species with accepted names within the genus <i>Murex</i>. The subgenera are considered alternate representations.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <ul><li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_acanthostephes/zy05BeJw">Murex acanthostephes</a></i> Watson, 1883<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_aduncospinosus/d8oYqVEe">Murex aduncospinosus</a></i> G.B. Sowerby II, 1841:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_africanus/j1GGCeo6">Murex africanus</a></i> Ponder & Vokes, 1988<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_altispira/lYQqBWPx">Murex altispira</a></i> Ponder & Vokes, 1988<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> Caltrop murex</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_antelmei/nqUrxGFC">Murex antelmei</a></i> Viader, 1938</li> <li>† <i>Murex bonneti</i> Cossmann, 1903</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_brevispina/u1QIGMhz">Murex brevispina</a></i> Lamarck, 1822 <a href="/facts/Short-spined_murex/u1QIGMhz">Short-spined murex</a></li> <li>† <i>Murex camplytropis</i> Tate, 1888</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_carbonnieri/vehSGxRq">Murex carbonnieri</a></i> (Jousseaume, 1881)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> Carbonnier's murex</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_concinnus/hvkJoHKz">Murex concinnus</a></i> Reeve, 1845<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_coppingeri/Rj7DKhoM">Murex coppingeri</a></i> E. A. Smith, 1884<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a></li> <li>† <i>Murex crassiliratus</i> Tate, 1888</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_djarianensis/n3gUm7Pc">Murex djarianensis</a></i> Martin, 1895 <ul><li><i>Murex djarianensis poppei</i><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> (synonym : <i>Murex (Murex) poppei</i> Houart, 1979)</li></ul></li> <li><i>Murex echinodes</i> Houart, 2011</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_falsitribulus/2enCEy2T">Murex falsitribulus</a></i> Ponder & Vokes, 1988<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></li> <li><i>Murex forskoehlio</i> Röding, 1798<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a></li> <li>† <i>Murex grooti</i> H. M. Jenkins, 1864</li> <li>† <i>Murex guppyi</i> Ladd, 1977</li> <li>† <i>Murex halli</i> d'Archiac & Haime, 1854</li> <li><i>Murex huangi</i> Houart, 2010</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_hystricosus/9kcWaFKA">Murex hystricosus</a></i> Houart & Dharma, 2001<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a></li> <li><i>Murex indicus</i> Houart, 2011</li> <li>† <i>Murex irregularis</i> Tate, 1888</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_kerslakae/Mhd9hyxW">Murex kerslakae</a></i> Ponder & Vokes, 1988<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a></li> <li>† <i>Murex lyelli</i> d'Archiac & Haime, 1854 (accepted > unreplaced junior homonym)</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_megapex/b3Rb3weT">Murex megapex</a></i> Neubert, 1998<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a></li> <li>† <i>Murex minutus</i> R. M. Johnston, 1880</li> <li>† <i>Murex nasongoensis</i> Ladd, 1977</li> <li>† <i>Murex noae</i> Holten, 1802</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_occa/NxYYMt2J">Murex occa</a></i> G.B. Sowerby II, 1834<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> Harrowed murex</li> <li>† <i>Murex paradoxicus</i> H. M. Jenkins, 1864</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_pecten/FvJf1Fnl">Murex pecten</a></i> Lightfoot, 1786<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> ': <a href="/facts/Venus_comb_murex/FvJf1Fnl">Venus comb murex</a> <ul><li><i>Murex pecten soelae</i></li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_philippinensis/CADkqAvq">Murex philippinensis</a></i> Parth, 1994<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_protocrassus/EpSajSY9">Murex protocrassus</a></i> Houart, 1990</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_queenslandicus/wDhd4P4D">Murex queenslandicus</a></i> Ponder & Vokes, 1988<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a></li> <li>† <i>Murex roemeri</i> d'Archiac & Haime, 1854</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_salomonensis/95Uo0vFH">Murex salomonensis</a></i> Parth, 1994<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_scolopax/VIjRYmfw">Murex scolopax</a></i> Dillwyn, 1817<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28"><sup>28</sup></a> False venus comb, woodcock murex</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_somalicus/cuFR5nFc">Murex somalicus</a></i> Parth, 1990<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29"><sup>29</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_spectabilis/xprWXaXv">Murex spectabilis</a></i> Ponder & Vokes, 1988<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30"><sup>30</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_spicatus/8ouCws0p">Murex spicatus</a></i> Ponder & Vokes, 1988<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31"><sup>31</sup></a></li> <li><i>Murex spinastreptos</i> Houart, 2010</li> <li>† <i>Murex spinicosta</i> Bronn, 1831</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_surinamensis/7tmQskb1">Murex surinamensis</a></i> Okutani, 1982<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32"><sup>32</sup></a></li> <li><i>Murex suttipraneeae</i> Gra-tes, 2023</li> <li>† <i>Murex tchihatcheffi</i> d'Archiac & Haime, 1854</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_tenuirostrum/S2aIkmHD">Murex tenuirostrum</a></i> Lamarck, 1822<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:33" href="#fn:33"><sup>33</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_ternispina/VWnaks3U">Murex ternispina</a></i> Lamarck, 1822<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:34" href="#fn:34"><sup>34</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_trapa/mmzFKy7G">Murex trapa</a></i> Roding, 1798<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:35" href="#fn:35"><sup>35</sup></a> Rare-spined murex</li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_tribulus/X1zQ3Xfc">Murex tribulus</a></i> <a href="/facts/Carl_Linnaeus/gy5HWkHS">Linnaeus</a>, 1758, <a href="/facts/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae/8H6KJrLJ">1758</a>:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:36" href="#fn:36"><sup>36</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Murex_tribulus/X1zQ3Xfc">Caltrop murex</a> <ul><li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_tribulus/X1zQ3Xfc">Murex tribulus spicatus</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_tribulus/X1zQ3Xfc"> Murex tribulus tenuirostrum</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_tribulus/X1zQ3Xfc"> Murex tribulus tenuirostrum africanus</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_tribulus/X1zQ3Xfc">Murex tribulus ternispina</a></i></li></ul></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_troscheli/KAusTD1s">Murex troscheli</a></i> Lischke, 1868<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:37" href="#fn:37"><sup>37</sup></a> Troschel's murex</li></ul> Species mentioned as species in current use in the Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database (OBIS) <ul><li><i><a href="/facts/Murex_singaporensis/8JjmpEUq">Murex singaporensis</a></i> A.Adams, 1853<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:38" href="#fn:38"><sup>38</sup></a></li></ul> Species brought into synonymy <ul><li><i>Murex aedonius</i> Watson, 1896:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:39" href="#fn:39"><sup>39</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Coralliophila_aedonia/I7XHd3Fa">Coralliophila aedonia</a></i> (Watson, 1885)</li> <li><i>Murex afer</i> Gmelin, 1791: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Afer_afer/r1XccuSg">Afer afer</a></i> (Gmelin, 1791)</li> <li><i>Murex alocatus</i>: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Pterymarchia_barclayana/ECtXHBkn">Pterymarchia barclayana</a></i> (H. Adams, 1873)</li> <li><i>Murex antillarum</i> : Antilles murex: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Siratus_articulatus/gYksvjxJ">Siratus articulatus</a></i> (Reeve, 1845)</li> <li><i>Murex argo</i> Clench & Farfante, 1945:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:40" href="#fn:40"><sup>40</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Chicoreus_spectrum/15FgzTAP">Chicoreus (Triplex) spectrum</a></i> (Reeve, 1846)</li> <li><i>Murex belcheri</i> Hinds, 1843 : synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Forreria_belcheri/ImRr0gbS">Forreria belcheri</a></i> (Hinds, 1843)</li> <li><i>Murex bellus</i> Reeve, 1845: synonym of <i>Vokesimurex bellus</i> (Reeve, 1845)</li> <li><i>Murex blakeanus</i> Vokes, 1967:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:41" href="#fn:41"><sup>41</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Vokesimurex_blakeanus/U0c60dsA">Vokesimurex blakeanus</a></i> (Vokes, 1967)</li> <li><i>Murex brandaris</i> Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Bolinus_brandaris/APmEFaEB">Bolinus brandaris</a></i> (Linnaeus, 1758)</li> <li><i>Murex canaliculatus</i> Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Busycotypus_canaliculatus/y7sHFXmK">Busycotypus canaliculatus</a></i> (Linnaeus, 1758)</li> <li><i>Murex capitellum</i> Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Vasum_capitellum/4BPr5Mu4">Vasum capitellum</a></i> (Linnaeus, 1758)</li> <li><i>Murex corallinus</i> Scacchi, 1836: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Ocinebrina_aciculata/Iw16T91G">Ocinebrina aciculata</a></i> (Lamarck, 1822)</li> <li><i>Murex corneus</i> Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Euthria_cornea/D4Cbp4tb">Euthria cornea</a></i> (Linnaeus, 1758)</li> <li><i>Murex coronatus</i> Born, 1778: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Pseudovertagus_aluco/8FUDl5pN">Pseudovertagus aluco</a></i> (Linnaeus, 1758)</li> <li><i>Murex edwardsii</i>:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:42" href="#fn:42"><sup>42</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Ocinebrina_edwardsii/GWV9TK79">Ocinebrina edwardsii</a></i> (Payraudeau, 1826)</li> <li><i>Murex garciai</i> Petuch, 1987: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Vokesimurex_garciai/R5P2AlK4">Vokesimurex garciai</a></i> (Petuch, 1987)</li> <li><i>Murex gubbi</i> Reeve, 1849:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:43" href="#fn:43"><sup>43</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Chicocenebra_gubbi/PG7PUATc">Chicocenebra gubbi</a></i> (Reeve, 1849)</li> <li><i>Murex inconspicuus</i> G.B. Sowerby II, 1841: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Ocinebrina_aciculata/Iw16T91G">Ocinebrina aciculata</a></i> (Lamarck, 1822)</li> <li><i>Murex intertextus</i> Helbling, 1779:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:44" href="#fn:44"><sup>44</sup></a> synonym of<i> <a href="/facts/Cumia_reticulata/JB4k4tq3">Cumia reticulata</a></i></li> <li><i>Murex jickelii</i> Tapparone Canefri, 1875: synonym of <i>Naquetia jickelii</i> (Tapparone Canefri, 1875)</li> <li><i>Murex lindajoycae</i> Petuch, 1987: synonym of <i>Vokesimurex lindajoycae</i> (Petuch, 1987)</li> <li><i>Murex longicornis</i> Dunker, 1864: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Chicoreus_longicornis/cYufmyWg">Chicoreus longicornis</a></i> (Dunker, 1864)</li> <li><i>Murex maroccensis</i> Gmelin, 1791:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:45" href="#fn:45"><sup>45</sup></a> synonym of <a href="/facts/Fusinus_maroccensis/7skKkJJ6">Fusinus maroccensis</a></li> <li><i>Murex monodon</i> Sowerby, 1825:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:46" href="#fn:46"><sup>46</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Chicoreus_cornucervi/315nN8b3">Chicoreus (Chicoreus) cornucervi</a></i> (Röding, 1798)</li> <li><i>Murex nassa</i> Gmelin, 1791:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:47" href="#fn:47"><sup>47</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Leucozonia_nassa/hgB7bu0c">Leucozonia nassa</a></i> (Gmelin, 1791)</li> <li><i>Murex nebula</i> Montagu, 1803: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Bela_nebula/dv5V66rE">Bela nebula</a></i> (Montagu, 1803)</li> <li><i>Murex peritus</i> Hinds, 1844a:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:48" href="#fn:48"><sup>48</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Favartia_perita/dkoecox3">Favartia (Favartia) perita</a></i> (Hinds, 1844)</li> <li><i>Murex pistacia</i> Reeve, 1845: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Ocinebrina_aciculata/Iw16T91G">Ocinebrina aciculata</a></i> (Lamarck, 1822)</li> <li><i>Murex purpuroides</i> Dunker:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:49" href="#fn:49"><sup>49</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Vaughtia_purpuroides/VBDQENxj">Vaughtia purpuroides</a></i> (Reeve, 1845)</li> <li><i>Murex recurvirostris</i>:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:50" href="#fn:50"><sup>50</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Vokesimurex_recurvirostrum/cCM2yQF1">Vokesimurex recurvirostrum</a></i> (Broderip, 1833)</li> <li><i>Murex rota</i> Sowerby:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:51" href="#fn:51"><sup>51</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Homalocantha_anatomica/vF9shwFV">Homalocantha anatomica</a></i> (Perry, 1811)</li> <li><i>Murex rubidus</i>:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:52" href="#fn:52"><sup>52</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Vokesimurex_rubidus/55SQ5Y1P">Vokesimurex rubidus</a></i> (F.C. Baker, 1897)</li> <li><i>Murex serratospinosus</i> Dunker, 1883: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Vokesimurex_mindanaoensis/5BluTTcy">Vokesimurex mindanaoensis</a></i> (G.B. Sowerby II, 1841)</li> <li><i>Murex subaciculatus</i> Locard, 1886: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Ocinebrina_aciculata/Iw16T91G">Ocinebrina aciculata</a></i> (Lamarck, 1822)</li> <li><i>Murex taxus</i> Dillwyn, 1817: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Clavatula_taxea/G4MNQVg0">Clavatula taxea</a></i> (Röding, 1798)</li> <li>† <i>Murex textilis</i> Brocchi, 1814:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:53" href="#fn:53"><sup>53</sup></a> synonym of † <i><a href="/facts/Rimosodaphnella_textilis/EqTKb0Un">Rimosodaphnella textilis</a></i> (Brocchi, 1814)</li> <li><i>Murex triqueter</i>:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:54" href="#fn:54"><sup>54</sup></a> synonym of<i> <a href="/facts/Naquetia_triqueter/ben9yFXP">Naquetia triqueter</a></i> (Born, 1778)</li> <li><i>Murex tulipa</i> Linnaeus, 1758:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:55" href="#fn:55"><sup>55</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Fasciolaria_tulipa/DbURwT5e">Fasciolaria tulipa</a></i> (Linnaeus, 1758)</li> <li><i>Murex turbinellus</i> Linnaeus, 1758: synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Vasum_turbinellus/g5fIMMNR">Vasum turbinellus</a></i> (Linnaeus, 1758)</li> <li><i>Murex vittatus</i> Broderip, 1833:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:56" href="#fn:56"><sup>56</sup></a> synonym of <i><a href="/facts/Favartia_vittata/I3KSlxH1">Favartia (Favartia) vittata</a></i> (Broderip, 1833)</li></ul> <ul><li>Merle, D., Garrigues, B. & Pointier, J.-P. 2011. Fossil and Recent Muricidae of the World, Part Muricinae. 648 pp., 182 colour plates, Hackenheim. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-3-939767-32-9.</li> <li>Ponder, W.F. & E.H. Vokes. 1988. A revision of the Indo-West Pacific fossil and Recent species of Murex s.s. and Haustellum (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Muricidae). <i>Records of the Australian Museum</i>, Supplement 8. 160 pp.</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Murex. <ul><li><a href="http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/history_anim.4.iv.html">Aristotle, 350 B.C.E. <i>A history of animals</i></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15936976">Sowerby, G. B. II. (1874). Monograph of the genus Mitra. In G. B. Sowerby II (ed.), Thesaurus conchyliorum, or monographs of genera of shells. Vol. 4 (31-32): 1–46, pls 352–379. London, privately published</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Houart, R.; Gofas, S. (2010). Murex Linnaeus, 1758. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138196 on 2011-04-09 <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138196" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138196</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Aristotle. (1902). History of animals in ten books. London: G. Bell. <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.19197" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.19197</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"murex | Etymology of murex by etymonline". www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 28 November 2024. <a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/murex" target="_blank">https://www.etymonline.com/word/murex</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Fossilworks <a href="https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=11385" target="_blank">https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=11385</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Sukenik, Naama; Iluz, David; Amar, Zohar; Varvak, Alexander; Shamir, Orit; Ben-Yosef, Erez (2021). "Early evidence of royal purple dyed textile from Timna Valley (Israel)". PLOS ONE. 16 (1): e0245897. Bibcode:2021PLoSO..1645897S. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0245897. PMC 7842898. PMID 33507987. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7842898" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7842898</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Jannun R., Nuwayhid N. and Coe E. (1981) Biological bromination – bromoperoxidase activity in the Murex sea-snail. FASEB. J. 40, 1774. <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Tekhelet - Biblical Blue Dye for Tzitzit <a href="http://www.tekhelet.com" target="_blank">http://www.tekhelet.com</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Newman, Marissa. "Linking ancient snails to an Israeli flag in space, a common thread". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2 February 2025. <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/linking-ancient-snails-to-an-israeli-flag-in-space-a-common-thread/" target="_blank">https://www.timesofisrael.com/linking-ancient-snails-to-an-israeli-flag-in-space-a-common-thread/</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>WoRMS : Murex 23 December 2010 <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138196" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=138196</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Murex acanthostephes Watson, 1883. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=398813" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=398813</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>^Houart, R. (2009). Murex aduncospinosus Sowerby, 1841. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215644 on 2010-08-06 <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215644" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215644</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Murex africanus Ponder & Vokes, 1988. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404972" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404972</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Murex altispira Ponder & Vokes, 1988. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=398836" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=398836</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Murex carbonnieri (Jousseaume, 1881). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404223" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404223</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Murex concinnus Reeve, 1845. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404264" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404264</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Murex coppingeri E. A. Smith, 1884. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404266" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404266</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Houart, R. (2009). Murex djarianensis poppei Houart, 1979. Accessed through the World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404977 on 2010-08-06 <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404977" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404977</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Murex falsitribulus Ponder & Vokes, 1988. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404363" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404363</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Murex forskoehli Röding, 1798. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=463926" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=463926</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Murex hystricosus Houart & Dharma, 2001. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404504" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404504</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Murex kerslakae Ponder & Vokes, 1988. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404526" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404526</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Murex megapex Neubert, 1998. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404619" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404619</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>Murex occa Sowerby, 1834. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404659" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404659</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>Murex pecten Lightfoot, 1786. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215663" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215663</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>Murex philippinensis Parth, 1994. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404697" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404697</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:26"><p>Murex queenslandicus Ponder & Vokes, 1988. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404728" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404728</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:27"><p>Murex salomonensis Parth, 1994. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404800" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404800</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:28"><p>Murex scolopax Dillwyn, 1817. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215637" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215637</a> <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:29"><p>Murex somalicus Parth, 1990. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404826" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404826</a> <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:30"><p>Murex spectabilis Ponder & Vokes, 1988. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404829" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404829</a> <a href="#fnref:30" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:31"><p>Murex spicatus Ponder & Vokes, 1988. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404832" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404832</a> <a href="#fnref:31" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:32"><p>Murex surinamensis Okutani, 1982. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404850" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404850</a> <a href="#fnref:32" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:33"><p>Murex tenuirostrum Lamarck, 1822. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404859" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404859</a> <a href="#fnref:33" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:34"><p>Murex ternispina Lamarck, 1822. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215662" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215662</a> <a href="#fnref:34" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:35"><p>Murex trapa Roding, 1798. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404879" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404879</a> <a href="#fnref:35" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:36"><p>Murex tribulus Linnaeus, 1758. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215641" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215641</a> <a href="#fnref:36" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:37"><p>Murex troscheli Lischke, 1868. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404897" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404897</a> <a href="#fnref:37" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:38"><p>Indo-Pacific Molluscan Database : Murex (Murex) singaporensis <a href="http://clade.ansp.org/obis/search.php/78425" target="_blank">http://clade.ansp.org/obis/search.php/78425</a> <a href="#fnref:38" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:39"><p>Murex aedonius Watson, 1896. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404033" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404033</a> <a href="#fnref:39" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:40"><p>Murex argo Clench & Farfante, 1945. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404013" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404013</a> <a href="#fnref:40" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:41"><p>Murex blakeanus Vokes, 1967. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404052" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404052</a> <a href="#fnref:41" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:42"><p>Murex edwardsi. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404328" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404328</a> <a href="#fnref:42" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:43"><p>Murex gubbi Reeve, 1849. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404485" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404485</a> <a href="#fnref:43" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:44"><p>Murex intertextus Helbling, 1779. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=447212" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=447212</a> <a href="#fnref:44" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:45"><p>Murex maroccensis Gmelin, 1791. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=447206" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=447206</a> <a href="#fnref:45" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:46"><p>Murex monodon Sowerby, 1841. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404048" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404048</a> <a href="#fnref:46" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:47"><p>Murex nassa Gmelin, 1791. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=447213" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=447213</a> <a href="#fnref:47" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:48"><p>Murex peritus Hinds, 1844a. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404692" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404692</a> <a href="#fnref:48" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:49"><p>Murex purpuroides Dunker. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215660" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215660</a> <a href="#fnref:49" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:50"><p>Murex recurvirostris. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404738" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404738</a> <a href="#fnref:50" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:51"><p>Murex rota Sowerby. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215633" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=215633</a> <a href="#fnref:51" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:52"><p>Murex rubidus. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404752" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404752</a> <a href="#fnref:52" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:53"><p>Murex textilis Gabb, 1873. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=408592" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=408592</a> <a href="#fnref:53" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:54"><p>Murex triqueter. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404016" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404016</a> <a href="#fnref:54" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:55"><p>Murex tulipa Linnaeus, 1758. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=447198" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=447198</a> <a href="#fnref:55" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:56"><p>Murex vittatus Broderip, 1833. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010. <a href="http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404941" target="_blank">http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=404941</a> <a href="#fnref:56" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>