''Hexaplex'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of medium-sized to large

sea snail Sea snail is a common name for slow-moving marine gastropod molluscs, usually with visible external shells, such as whelk or abalone. They share the taxonomic class Gastropoda with slugs, which are distinguished from snails primarily by the ...

marine Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean. Marine or marines may refer to: Ocean * Maritime (disambiguation) * Marine art * Marine biology * Marine debris * Marine habitats * Marine life * Marine pollution Military * ...

gastropod The gastropods (), commonly known as snails and slugs, belong to a large taxonomic class of invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca called Gastropoda (). This class comprises snails and slugs from saltwater, from freshwater, and from land. T ...

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 ...

s in the subfamily muracinae of the family

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 Neogas ...

, the murex shells or rock snails.Houart, R.; Gofas, S. (2010). Hexaplex Perry, 1810. 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=138194 on 2010-11-01 This genus is known in the fossil record from the

Paleocene The Paleocene, ( ) or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 mya (unit), million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), E ...

to the

Quaternary The Quaternary ( ) is the current and most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). It follows the Neogene Period and spans from 2.58 million years ...

period (age range: from 61.7 to 0.012 million years ago.). Fossil shells within this genus have been found all over the world.Fossilworks
/ref>

Description

This genus includes shells in the family Muricidae that are solid and globose. They contain five to eight varices that are more or less foliaceous.

Species

Species within the genus ''Hexaplex'' include : * '' Hexaplex angularis'' (Lamarck, 1822) * †''

Hexaplex arietinus ''Hexaplex'' is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily muracinae of the family Muricidae, the murex shells or rock snails.Houart, R.; Gofas, S. (2010). Hexaplex Perry, 1810. In: Bouchet, P.; Go ...

'' (Millet, 1865) * '' Hexaplex bifasciatus'' (A. Adams, 1853) * † ''

Hexaplex bourgeoisi ''Hexaplex'' is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily muracinae of the family Muricidae, the murex shells or rock snails.Houart, R.; Gofas, S. (2010). Hexaplex Perry, 1810. In: Bouchet, P.; Go ...

'' (Tournouër, 1875) * ''

Hexaplex brassica ''Hexaplex brassica'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as mu ...

'' (Lamarck, 1822) * ''

Hexaplex cichoreum ''Hexaplex cichoreum'', common name the "endive murex", is a medium-sized species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex shells or rock snails.Houart, R. (2013). Hexaplex cichoreum (Gmelin, 1791). Access ...

'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''

Hexaplex conatus ''Hexaplex conatus'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as mur ...

'' (McMichael, 1964) * ''

Hexaplex duplex ''Hexaplex duplex'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. Subspecies Both subspecies are now considered synonyms of ''Hexaplex duplex''. *''Hexaplex duplex duplex'' (R ...

'' Röding, 1798 * ''

Hexaplex erythrostomus ''Hexaplex erythrostomus'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known ...

'' (Swainson, 1831) * ''

Hexaplex fulvescens ''Hexaplex fulvescens'', the giant eastern murex or giant Atlantic murex or tawny murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large pre ...

'' (Sowerby II, 1834) * ''

Hexaplex kuesterianus ''Hexaplex kuesterianus'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known a ...

'' (Tapparone-Canefri, 1875) * † ''

Hexaplex ledoni ''Hexaplex'' is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily muracinae of the family Muricidae, the murex shells or rock snails.Houart, R.; Gofas, S. (2010). Hexaplex Perry, 1810. In: Bouchet, P.; Go ...

'' Ceulemans, van Dingenen, Merle & Landau, 2016 * ''

Hexaplex megacerus ''Hexaplex megacerus'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as m ...

'' (G.B. Sowerby II, 1834) * ''

Hexaplex pecchiolianus ''Hexaplex pecchiolianus'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known ...

'' (d'Ancona, 1871) * ''

Hexaplex princeps ''Hexaplex princeps'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as mu ...

'' (Broderip, 1833) * ''

Hexaplex regius ''Hexaplex regius'', common name: the regal murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. Description The size of the adult shell varies between 60 mm and 180&nb ...

'' (Swainson, 1821) * ''

Hexaplex rileyi ''Hexaplex'' is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily muracinae of the family Muricidae, the murex shells or rock snails.Houart, R.; Gofas, S. (2010). Hexaplex Perry, 1810. In: Bouchet, P.; Go ...

'' D'Attilio & Myers, 1984 * ''

Hexaplex rosarium ''Hexaplex rosarium'', commonly known as the rosy-mouth murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. Description The size of an adult shell varies between and . Rep ...

'' (Röding, 1798) * ''

Hexaplex saharicus ''Hexaplex saharicus'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as m ...

'' (Locard, 1897) * ''

Hexaplex stainforthi ''Hexaplex stainforthi'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as ...

'' (Reeve, 1843) * † ''

Hexaplex tapparonii ''Hexaplex'' is a genus of medium-sized to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily muracinae of the family Muricidae, the murex shells or rock snails.Houart, R.; Gofas, S. (2010). Hexaplex Perry, 1810. In: Bouchet, P.; Go ...

'' (Bellardi, 1873) * † '' Hexaplex tridentatus'' (Tate, 1888) * ''

Hexaplex trunculus ''Hexaplex trunculus'' (previously known as ''Murex trunculus'', ''Phyllonotus trunculus'', or the banded dye-murex) is a medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex shells or rock snails. It is included ...

'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * † '' Hexaplex turonensis'' (Dujardin, 1837) ; Species brought into synonymy: * ''Hexaplex ambiguus'' (Reeve, 1845): synonym of ''

Muricanthus ambiguus ''Muricanthus ambiguus'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as ...

'' (Reeve, 1845) * ''Hexaplex anatomica'' Perry, 1811: synonym of ''

Homalocantha anatomica ''Homalocantha anatomica'' (common name: "Pele's Murex" or "Anatomical Murex") is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family (biology), family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. Taxonomy * Subspecies ''Homalocant ...

'' (Perry, 1811) (original combination) * ''Hexaplex bojadorensis'' (Locard, 1897): synonym of Favartia bojadorensis (Locard, 1897) * ''Hexaplex bozzadamii'' (Franchi, 1990): synonym of ''Hexaplex kusterianus bozzadamii'' (Franchi, 1990),: synonym of ''Hexaplex kuesterianus bozzadamii'' (Franchi, 1990) * ''Hexaplex foliacea'' Perry, 1811: synonym of ''

'' (Gmelin, 1791) (synonym) * ''Hexaplex fusca'' Perry, 1811: synonym of '' Homalocantha scorpio'' (Linnaeus, 1758) (synonym) * ''Hexaplex kusterianus'': synonym of ''

'' (Tapparone Canefri, 1875) (misspelling) * ''Hexaplex nigritus'' (Philippi, 1845): synonym of ''

Muricanthus nigritus ''Muricanthus nigritus'', the Northern Radix or Black-and-White Murex or Black Murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. It is commonly known as the black murex shel ...

'' (Philippi, 1845) * ''Hexaplex punctuata'' Perry, 1811: synonym of ''

'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1834) (nomen oblitum) * ''Hexaplex puniceus'' W. R. B. Oliver, 1915: synonym of ''

Favartia garrettii ''Favartia garrettii'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family (biology), family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. Description Distribution References

Muricidae Gastropods described in 1868 ...

'' (Pease, 1868) * ''Hexaplex radix'' (Gmelin, 1791): synonym of ''

Muricanthus radix ''Muricanthus radix'', the radix murex or root murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Muricanthus radix (Gmelin, 1791). Acces ...

'' (Gmelin, 1791) * ''Hexaplex ryalli'' Houart, 1993: synonym of ''Hexaplex saharicus ryalli'' Houart, 1993 (original combination) * ''Hexaplex strausi'' (A.H. Verrill, 1950): synonym of ''

Muricanthus strausi ''Muricanthus'' is a genus of sea snails, marine (ocean), marine gastropod mollusks in the family (biology), family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. The name ''Muricanthus'' was previously considered a synonym of ''Hexaplex (Muricanth ...

'' (A. H. Verrill, 1950) * ''Hexaplex tenuis'' Perry, 1811: synonym of '' Homalocantha scorpio'' (Linnaeus, 1758) (synonym) * ''Hexaplex turbinatus'' : synonym of ''Hexaplex duplex'' (Röding, 1798) * ''Hexaplex varius'' (Sowerby II, 1834): synonym of ''

Chicoreus varius ''Chicoreus varius'' is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. Description The shell size varies between 29 mm and 65 mm Distribution This species occurs in th ...

'' (G. B. Sowerby II, 1834)

Extinct species

Extinct species within the genus ''Hexaplex'' include: * ''†Hexaplex (Hexaplex) colei'' Palmer 1937 * ''†Hexaplex (Hexaplex) engonatus'' Conrad 1833 * ''†Hexaplex (Hexaplex) etheringtoni'' Vokes 1968 * ''†Hexaplex (Hexaplex) katherinae'' Vokes 1968 * ''†Hexaplex (Hexaplex) marksi'' Harris 1894 * ''†Hexaplex (Hexaplex) silvaticus'' Palmer 1937 * ''†Hexaplex (Hexaplex) supernus'' Palmer 1947 * ''†Hexaplex (Hexaplex) texanus'' Vokes 1968 * ''†Hexaplex (Hexaplex) vanuxemi '' Conrad 1865 * ''†Hexaplex (Hexaplex) veatchi'' Maury 1910 * ''†Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) bourgeoisi'' Tournouër 1875 * ''†Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) brevicanthos'' Sismonda 1847 * ''†Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) campanii'' De Stefani and Pantanelli 1878 * ''†Hexaplex (Trunculariopsis) rudis'' Borson 1821 * ''†Hexaplex hertweckorum'' Petuch 1988 Muricidae - Hexaplex trunculus conglobatus

Muricidae - Hexaplex trunculus conglobatus

Description

Species

Extinct species

References

Further reading