| Hexaplex fulvescens | |
|---|---|
| |
| ShellofHexaplex fulvescens (Sowerby, 1834), with operculum, measuring 116.9 mm in height, off Brownsville, in Texas. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Muricidae |
| Genus: | Hexaplex |
| Species: |
H. fulvescens
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hexaplex fulvescens (Sowerby II, 1834) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Hexaplex fulvescens, the giant eastern murexorgiant Atlantic murexortawny murex, is a speciesofsea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.[1]
This species is native to the western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Cape Canaveral, Florida and it is also present in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida west to Texas.[2][3]
These quite uncommon sea snails live at depths of 0 to 80 m.[4]
In fact they commonly can be found in deeper waters,
but they can also be found in shallow inshore waters.[3][5]
Commercial scallop operations out of Florida sometimes trawl this species
in 100 - 120 feet depth.
Shells of Hexaplex fulvescens can reach a size of 60–223 millimetres (2.4–8.8 in).[2] These snails are massive and spinose and they are the largest muricid snails of the Western Atlantic (hence the common name).[3] They have several straight or bifurcate spines arranged in 6-10 radial rows with spiraling ridges. Snail surface may be whitish, grayish or pale brown, the aperture is oval with crenulate edges. The siphonal canal is short.[5]
Hexaplex fulvescens are active predators on other mollusks (mussels, oysters and clams).[3] They lay their eggs in capsules attached under rocks.[6]
| Hexaplex fulvescens |
|
|---|---|
| Murex fulvescens |
|
