Murex trapa Röding, 1798

Murex trapa, is also known as  rare-spined murex(common name) , is a type of sea snail belonging to the Muricidae family, commonly referred to as rock snails.

Current Status of Name :
This name is currently accepted taxonomically.

Rank : Species

Environment : Marine


Murex trapa 

Description :

Shell Morphology:

  • Medium to large sized shell, typically 6-10 cm in length
  • Thick, solid shell with a high conical spire
  • Aperture is oval and elongated with a long, partially closed siphonal canal
  • Outer lip is thickened and bears 5-7 long, hollow, curved spines
  • Shell surface is covered in spiral rows of rounded knobs/nodes
  • Color is whitish, cream or pale pinkish, some specimens with brown markings

Soft Body Anatomy:

  • Large muscular foot
  • Long extensible proboscis used for feeding
  • Two cephalic tentacles with eyes at their base
  • Siphon used for respiration

Habitat and Ecology:

  • Found in tropical marine environments of the Indo-West Pacific
  • Lives in intertidal and subtidal zones on rocky or coral rubble areas
  • A predatory gastropod that drills holes in bivalve shells to feed
  • Sedentary as an adult, moves by muscular foot when young

Reproduction and Life Cycle:

  • Males and females release gametes into water for external fertilization
  • Planktonic veliger larvae develop before settling and metamorphosing
  • Life span is uncertain, likely several years

Distribution:

  • Native range spans the Indo-West Pacific region
  • From East Africa, Red Sea, across Indian Ocean to Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia

Significance:

  • Highly prized and valuable species in the shell collecting trade
  • Shell used to produce a purple dye of historical importance
  • Ancient civilizations used the dye for royal robes and garments
  • Subject of overharvesting in some areas for the shell trade

With its elaborate spiny shell and ability to produce a rare purple dye, the Precious Murex has been a highly sought-after species for millennia. While prized by collectors, its restricted distribution also makes it vulnerable to overexploitation in parts of its Indo-Pacific range.

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