''Muricanthus radix'', the radix murex or root murex, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of sea snail, a marine gastropod

mollusk Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is e ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as murex snails or rock snails. With about 1,600 living species, the Muricidae represent almost 10% of the Neoga ...

, the murex snails or rock snails.MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Muricanthus radix (Gmelin, 1791). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=406198 on 2021-08-25

Distribution

This species can be found in the western Pacific in parts of Central America (

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, from

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

Habitat

These sea snails live along the tropical coasts in shallow waters among intertidal rocks. Muricidae - Hexaplex radix

Description

Shells of ''Muricanthus radix'' can reach a size of . These large, massive, heavy shells are globose or pear-shaped and very spiny, with a white surface and blackish-brown foliations and spiral elements. The body whorls have six to eleven varices. The aperture is large, broad, ovate and porcelaneous white. The outer edges are strongly dentate. The siphonal canal is moderately long. The operculum is dark brown. This species is quite similar to '' Hexaplex nigritus''. The shells of these two species mainly differ in the length, width and in the proportion of blackish-brown versus white. Moreover, shells of ''H. radix'' are less oblong and show less spines in black. Whatsup San Carlos
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Biology

''Hexaplex radix'' feeds primarily on clams.

References

Bibliography

* A. Keen - Sea Shells of Tropical West America * Arianna Fulvo and Roberto Nistri (2005). 350 coquillages du monde entier. Delachaux et Niestlé (Paris) : 256 p. () * G. E. Radwin - Murex Shells of the World - An Illustrated Guide to the Muricidae * Merle D., Garrigues B. & Pointier J.-P. (2011) ''Fossil and Recent Muricidae of the world. Part Muricinae''. Hackenheim: Conchbooks. 648 pp. * Pfleger V. (1999): České názvy živočichů III. Měkkýši (Mollusca) - Národní muzeum, Praha, 108 pp. * V. Alamo and V. Valdivieso M. - Systematic List of Peruvian Marine Molluscs * Houart, R. & Wiedrick, S.G. (2021). Review of Muricanthus Swainson, 1840 and some Recent species assigned to Hexaplex s.s. Perry, 1810, Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) Cossmann, 1921 and Phyllonotus Swainson, 1833. Novapex. 22(1-2): 25-42.

External links

Gmelin J.F. (1791). Vermes. In: Gmelin J.F. (Ed.) Caroli a Linnaei Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Ed. 13. Tome 1(6). G.E. Beer, Lipsiae
Muricidae Gastropods described in 1791 Taxa named by Johann Friedrich Gmelin {{Muricidae-stub