Trophonopsis muricata
Trophonopsis muricata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Description
The size of an adult shell varies between 10 mm and 20 mm. The narrow, conical shell has seven or eight tumid whorls, crossed by numerous transverse ribs, narrow and almost straight. The color of the shell is yellowish, flesh-colored or sometimes white.
The ova-capsules are described by Jeffreys as about a line in diameter, with an oval orifice. The contain a purplish liquor together with the fry. The animal is light yellow or whitish. It is eaten by fishes : Trigla lyra and Peristedion cataphractum.
Distribution
This species occurs in sublittoral European waters, in the Mediterranean Sea, in the Black Sea, in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean off Portugal, Spain and the Azores
Synonyms
Fusus asperrimus Leach in Brown, 1827Fusus cancellatus Bivona, 1838Fusus longurio Weinkauff, 1866Murex muricatus Montagu, 1803Murex recticanalis Wood, 1879Murex sculptus Bellardi, 1872 Pseudofusus rostratus var. sowerbyana Monterosato, 1890 Raphitoma asperrima Trophon curta Locard, 1892Trophon muricatus Trophon muricatus albinus Settepassi, 1977 Trophon muricatus major Settepassi, 1977 Trophon muricatus var. aspera Monterosato in Bucquoy & Dautzenberg, 1882Trophon muricatus var. lactea Jeffreys, 1867Trophon muricatus var. major Monterosato in Bucquoy & Dautzenberg, 1882Trophon muricatus var. minor Monterosato in Bucquoy & Dautzenberg, 1882Trophonopsis curta Locard, 1892 Trophonopsis forestii Ruggieri, 1947 Trophonopsis forestii coeni Ruggieri, 1947 Trophonopsis gortani Ruggieri, 1947Trophonopsis longurio Bucquoy & Dautzenberg, 1882 ·Trophonopsis muricata var. minor Locard, 1897Trophonopsis muricatus albinus Monterosato in Settepassi, 1977Trophonopsis muricatus var. minor Locard, 1897