Murex tribulus
Species of gastropod
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Murex tribulus, the caltrop murex, is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails.[1]
| Murex tribulus | |
|---|---|
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| A shell of Murex tribulus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Muricidae |
| Genus: | Murex |
| Species: | M. tribulus |
| Binomial name | |
| Murex tribulus | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
The shell of Murex tribulus can reach a length of 65–160 millimetres (2.6–6.3 in). This quite common snail has a shell with a very long siphonal canal and numerous very long, fragile and acute spines, providing protection against predators. It feeds on other mollusks.
Distribution
This species is widespread from Central Indian Ocean to Western Pacific Ocean.
