Murex tribulus

Murex tribulus, the caltrop murex, is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails.^[1]

Murex tribulus
A shell of Murex tribulus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
Subclass:	Caenogastropoda
Order:	Neogastropoda
Family:	Muricidae
Genus:	Murex
Species:	M. tribulus
Binomial name
Murex tribulus Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
Murex pecten Montfort, 1810

Description

The shell of Murex tribulus can reach a length of 65–160 millimetres (2.6–6.3 in). This quite common snail has a shell with a very long siphonal canal and numerous very long, fragile and acute spines, providing protection against predators. It feeds on other mollusks.

Distribution

This species is widespread from Central Indian Ocean to Western Pacific Ocean.