Chicoreus brevifrons

Chicoreus brevifrons, common name the West Indian murex, is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails.^[1]

West indian murex
A shell of Margarita Island, Chicoreus brevifrons
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Family:	Muricidae
Genus:	Chicoreus
Species:	C. brevifrons
Binomial name
Chicoreus brevifrons (Lamarck, 1822)
Synonyms[1]
Chicoreus (Chicoreus) vokesae Macsotay & Campos, 2001 Chicoreus (Triplex) brevifrons (Lamarck, 1822) Murex approximatus Sowerby, 1879 Murex brevifrons Lamarck, 1822 Murex crassivaricosa Reeve, 1845 Murex elongatus Lamarck, 1822 Murex pudoricolor Reeve, 1845 Murex purpuratus Reeve, 1846 Murex spectrum var. incertum Usticke, 1969 Murex toupiollei Bernardi, 1860

Shell description

The maximum shell length of this species is up to 150 mm.^[2]

The shell of C. brevifrons is relatively elongate, and has a typical muricid outline. Three axial varices are present along its body whorl, and they are ornamented by characteristic expanded hollow spines. It also presents flat spiral cords in the interspaces of its surface. The anterior canal is well-developed,^[2] akin to several other Muricidae snails.

Distribution

C. brevifrons occurs in the Western Central Atlantic, from the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Antilles to Brazil.^[2]

Ecology

Habitat

This sea snail dwells on mud flats in protected bays and lagoons. It is commonly found near oyster banks, as well as mangrove areas.^[2]

Feeding

C. brevifrons is an active predator of other molluscs such as oysters and clams.^[3]

Human uses

This sea snail is locally collected for food, and is consumed raw or boiled.^[2] The shell is often sold as a souvenir in local markets.