Gabriel Paladino Ibáñez, Uruguay
Info
Homalocantha pele (Pilsbry, 1918)
Pele's Murex is a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Spiny snails live in or near coral reefs, where they feed on other invertebrates. Most spiny snails paralyze their prey with a neurotoxin that they secrete. Some species produce a slime from which purple dye was once obtained.
The size of the case of Homalocantha pele varies between 38 mm and 63 mm. These shells are solid, whitish, sometimes yellow or red, and moderately light, with five to six varices per whorl. The opening is small and white or pink and has irregular teeth. The columella is smooth and the siphon canal is moderately long.
However, many specimens are so encrusted that they look like part of the reef. Due to their effective camouflage to protect them from predators, Pele's Murex can also often be found outdoors. They live in seaward reefs at a depth of about 2 to 20 m.
Synonymised names
Murex pele Pilsbry, 1918 · unaccepted (original combination)
Pele's Murex is a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Spiny snails live in or near coral reefs, where they feed on other invertebrates. Most spiny snails paralyze their prey with a neurotoxin that they secrete. Some species produce a slime from which purple dye was once obtained.
The size of the case of Homalocantha pele varies between 38 mm and 63 mm. These shells are solid, whitish, sometimes yellow or red, and moderately light, with five to six varices per whorl. The opening is small and white or pink and has irregular teeth. The columella is smooth and the siphon canal is moderately long.
However, many specimens are so encrusted that they look like part of the reef. Due to their effective camouflage to protect them from predators, Pele's Murex can also often be found outdoors. They live in seaward reefs at a depth of about 2 to 20 m.
Synonymised names
Murex pele Pilsbry, 1918 · unaccepted (original combination)
