Apple Murex (also known as the Pink-mouthed Murex or Branch-ribbed Murex)
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Gastropoda, Order: Neogastropoda, Family: Muricidae, Genus: Phyllonotus, Species: Phyllonotus pomum · Muricidae (Murex family or Rock snails) · Gastropod (univalve snail), whole shell, spiral shape with prominent varices and spines
Species
Phyllonotus pomum
Shell Type
Gastropod (univalve snail), whole shell, spiral shape with prominent varices and spines
Family
Muricidae (Murex family or Rock snails)
Size
Approximately 3.5 inches in length. Adults typically range from 2.5 to 5 inches, placing this specimen right in the middle of the typical size range.
Color & Pattern
Base color is off-white to cream, accented with spiral bands of brown and orange-brown markings across the varices. The interior aperture exhibits a soft, creamy white or pale pinkish tone with crenulated margins along the outer lip.
Rarity
Common, frequently found washed ashore or collected by divers in its native range.
Habitat
Found in shallow subtidal waters, often ranging from the low intertidal zone down to depths of about 30 meters. Prefers sandy or muddy bottoms, coral rubble, and seagrass beds.
Geographic Range
Western Atlantic Ocean, spanning from North Carolina and Florida through the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and down to northern South America (Brazil).
Description
A robust, heavy, rough-textured marine snail shell featuring prominent varices adorned with blunt spines, frills, and spiral cords. It has a rounded body whorl, a moderately elevated spire, a distinctive rounded aperture with a toothed outer lip, and a short, open siphonal canal.
Key Features
Rough, node-studded varices, a rounded oval aperture with denticles (teeth) along the inner edge of the outer lip, and a relatively short siphonal canal.
Collector Value
Moderately low commercial value due to its common abundance, typically valued at a few dollars. However, it remains a staple and attractive addition to amateur shell collections.
Condition Notes
Good condition overall. The shell is structurally intact with some natural weathering and minor fading of the surface coloration due to sun exposure, characteristic of a beach-collected specimen. Grade: Good.
Interesting Facts
Murex snails are predatory carnivores that feed on bivalves and other gastropods by drilling holes in their prey's shells using their radula and secreting softening acids. Historically, members of the Muricidae family were used to produce the highly prized Tyrian purple dye for royalty.
Ecological Role
Acts as an important carnivorous predator controlling bivalve and gastropod populations in benthic marine ecosystems. Empty shells frequently serve as mobile homes for hermit crabs.
Similar Species
Apple Murex can be confused with the West Indian Murex (Phyllonotus pomum variants or Chicoreus species), but can be distinguished by its distinctively rounded aperture and specific variceal ornamentation.
Beach Finding Tips
Look along Gulf Coast and Florida beaches after strong storms or high tides, particularly near weed lines and shell piles deposited along the high tide mark.