Murex tribulus
{{Short description|Species of gastropod}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Muricidae - Murex tribulus.JPG
| image_caption = A shell of Murex tribulus
| taxon = Murex tribulus
| synonyms = * Murex pecten Montfort, 1810
}}
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.Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.-P. (Ed.); Frýda J., Hausdorf B., Ponder W., Valdes A. & Warén A. 2005. [http://www.vliz.be/Vmdcdata/imis2/ref.php?refid=78278Classification and nomenclator of gastropod families. Malacologia: International Journal of Malacology, 47(1-2). ] {{ISBN|3-925919-72-4}}. ISSN 0076-2997. 397 pp. - ConchBooks: Hackenheim, Germany.
Description
The shell of Murex tribulus can reach a length of {{convert|65|-|160|mm}}. 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.
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{Gastropods.com|key=8|id=1148|title=Murex (Murex) tribulus tribulus|access-date=16 January 2019}}
- [https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id550399/ Biolib]
- [http://eol.org/pages/2988922/details Encyclopaedia of Life]
- [http://www.diverosa.com/Lembeh%202008/IL3-064%20Triple-spined%20murex,%20Murex%20tribulus.html Diverosa]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1257150}}
Category:Gastropods described in 1758
Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
{{Muricinae-stub}}