The Murex Shells. Rock Shells 



The varices are low ridges: the spines are reduced in number and 

 size to a few scattered tubercles. The mouth is round and has a 

 sharp, exserted rim. The ground colour is fulvous, with spiral 

 brown lines that widen at the tubercles. The lining is pink. 

 Length, 3 to 4 inches. 



Habitat. — Mauritius, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, China, Philip- 

 pines. 



The Rare Spine Murex (M. rarispina, Lam.) is marked 

 by scattered short spines, with a few long ones on the upper 

 margin of each whorl. The lower half of the canal is quite spine- 

 less. Length, 3^- inches. 



Habitat. — Indian Ocean. 



The Short Spine Murex {M. brevispina. Lam.), scarcely 

 three inches long, is whitish and has few short, curved spines on 

 the varices. Between these spines each varix is closely tubercled. 



Habitat. — South Africa, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, North 

 Australia. 



The Curved-beak Murex (M. recurvirostris, Brod.) has 

 thick, leaf-like varices, crossed by strong spiral ridges, and three 

 secondary longitudinal ridges between. The upper tubercle on 

 each varix is prolonged into a spine. There are usually one or 

 two spines below the aperture. The colour varies from white to 

 purplish brown, with faint bands of darker brown, showing most 

 distinctly in the aperture. The tip of the canal is recurved. 

 Length, 2 to 3 inches. 



Habitat. — West Indies, West Central America. 



The Golden Mouth Murex {M. chrysostoma, Gray) has a 

 curved canal, and further resembles the last-named species in 

 its tubercled varices, and rare spines, in size and shape. It is 

 yellowish drab outside; the mouth is lined with bright orange, 

 and bordered with brown. 



Habitat. — Gulf of Mexico, West Indies. 



Sub-genus PTERONOTUS, Swains. 



Shell triangular; varices, three, fin-like or leaf-like; canal 

 curved, closed, usually short. 



The Triangular Murex (M. trigonulus, Lam.) has its apex 

 elevated, and the whole shell spirally ribbed; the varices are 

 flattened ridges, the aperture is round, with a broad, leaf-like 

 wing flaring outward, and following half way down the slim, 



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