Chicoreus florifer explained

Chicoreus (Triplex) florifer, common name : the flowery lace murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

Subspecies and formae

• Chicoreus (Triplex) florifer arenarius (f) Clench, W.J. & I. Pérez Farfante, 1945^[1]
• Chicoreus (Triplex) florifer dilectus (f) (Adams, A., 1855): the Florida lace murex (synonyms : Chicoreus (Triplex) florifer rachelcarsonae (f) Petuch, E.J., 1987; Chicoreus rachelcarsonae Petuch, E.J., 1987)
• Chicoreus (Triplex) florifer emilyae (f) Petuch, E.J., 1987

Description

The shell size varies between 35mm93mm. This shell is relatively elongate or fusoid and has a typical muricid outline. Three axial varices are present along its body whorl, each one ornamented by a characteristic row of leafy spines. Between the varices there is a shouldered axial rib. Aperture is small and subcircular. The outer apertural lip is dentate. The surface of the shell may be cream, pale rust-brown or deep brownish black. The interior is usually white.

Distribution

This species is distributed in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and along North Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas.

Further reading

• Rosenberg, G., F. Moretzsohn, and E. F. García. 2009. Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579–699 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas.
• George E. Radwin, Anthony D'Attilio Murex Shells of the World: An Illustrated Guide to the Muricidae - Page 37

Notes and References

1. http://www.gastropods.com/5/Shell_34935.shtml Gastropods.com : Chicoreus (Triplex) florifer arenarius