astronomy-to-zoology:Venus Comb Murex (Murex pecten)…a large...

astronomy-to-zoology:

Venus Comb Murex (Murex pecten)

…a large species of murex (muricidae) that is widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific. M. pecten is unique in that its shell has a extremely long siphonal canal and numerous spines. These many spines are thought to provide the snail protection and prevent it from sinking into soft mud. Like other murexes M. pecten is a predator and will feed on other mollusks and bivalves.

Classification

Animalia-Mollusca-Gastropoda-Caenogastropoda-Hypsogastropoda-Neogastropoda-Muricoidea-Muricidae-Murex-M. pecten

Images: Samuel Chow and Didier Descouens