Muricidae is a large and varied taxonomic family of small to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks, commonly known as murex snails or rock snails. With about 1,600 living species, the Muricidae represent almost 10% of the Neogastropoda. Additionally, 1,200 fossil species have been recognized.

Numerous subfamilies are recognized, although experts disagree about the subfamily divisions and the definitions of the genera. Many muricids have unusual shells which are considered attractive by shell collectors and by interior designers. Periostracum is absent in this family.

Most species of muricids are carnivorous, active predators that feed on other gastropods, bivalves, and barnacles. The access to the soft parts of the prey is typically obtained by boring a hole through the shell by means of a softening secretion and the scraping action of the radula. Because of their carnivory, some species may be considered pests because they can cause considerable destruction both in exploited natural beds of bivalves, and in farmed areas of commercial bivalves.

Muricids lay eggs in protective, corneous capsules, the size and shape of which vary by species. From these capsules the crawling juveniles, or more rarely planktonic larvae, hatch.

Members of the genus were harvested by early Mediterranean peoples, with the Phoenicians possibly the first to do so, to extract an expensive, vivid, stable dye known as Tyrian purple, imperial purple, or royal purple, namely Bolinus brandaris (Purple dye Murex). Many species are also eaten. In this sub-family, most of the larger and well known species resides.

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Bolinus brandaris (Purple dye murex)
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Bolinus brandaris (Purple dye murex)

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Bolinus cornutus (African horned murex)
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Bolinus cornutus (African horned murex)

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Chicomurex gloriosus
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Chicomurex gloriosus

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Chicomurex laciniatus
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Chicomurex laciniatus

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Chicomurex pseudosuperbus
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Chicomurex pseudosuperbus

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Chicomurex superbus (superb murex)
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Chicomurex superbus (superb murex)

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Chicoreus aculeatus (Pendant murex)
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Chicoreus aculeatus (Pendant murex)

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Chicoreus akritos
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Chicoreus akritos

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Chicoreus axicornis (Center-horned murex)
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Chicoreus axicornis (Center-horned murex)

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Chicoreus banksii (Banks' murex)
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Chicoreus banksii (Banks' murex)

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Chicoreus brevifrons (West Indian murex)
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Chicoreus brevifrons (West Indian murex)

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Chicoreus brunneus (Adusta murex)
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Chicoreus brunneus (Adusta murex)

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Chicoreus cervicornis (Deer antler murex)
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Chicoreus cervicornis (Deer antler murex)

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Chicoreus cornucervi (Staghorn murex)
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Chicoreus cornucervi (Staghorn murex)

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Chicoreus cnissodus (Smelly murex)
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Chicoreus cnissodus (Smelly murex)

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Chicoreus denudatus (Branch-bearing murex)
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Chicoreus denudatus (Branch-bearing murex)

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Chicoreus dodongi
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Chicoreus dodongi

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Chicoreus loebbeckei (Loebbecke's murex)
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Chicoreus loebbeckei (Loebbecke's murex)

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Chicoreus longicornis
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Chicoreus longicornis

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Chicoreus miyokoae  (Miyoko murex)
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Chicoreus miyokoae  (Miyoko murex)

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Chicoreus nobilis (Noble murex)
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Chicoreus nobilis (Noble murex)

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Chicoreus orchidiflorus (Orchid murex)
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Chicoreus orchidiflorus (Orchid murex)

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Chicoreus palmarosae (Rose-branch murex)
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Chicoreus palmarosae (Rose-branch murex)

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Chicoreus ramosus (Branched murex)
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Chicoreus ramosus (Branched murex)

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Chicoreus rubiginosus 
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Chicoreus rubiginosus 

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Chicoreus saulii (Saul's Murex)
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Chicoreus saulii (Saul's Murex)

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Chicoreus spectrum (Spectral murex)
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Chicoreus spectrum (Spectral murex)

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Chicoreus torrefactus (Firebrand murex)
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Chicoreus torrefactus (Firebrand murex)

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Chicoreus trivialis (Trivial Murex)
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Chicoreus trivialis (Trivial Murex)

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Chicoreus virgineus (Virgin murex)
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Chicoreus virgineus (Virgin murex)

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Haustellum barbieri
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Haustellum barbieri

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Haustellum haustellum (Snipe's Bill murex)
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Haustellum haustellum (Snipe's Bill murex)

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Haustellum kurodai (Kuroda's snipe bill murex)
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Haustellum kurodai (Kuroda's snipe bill murex)

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Haustellum tweedianum (Tweed murex)
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Haustellum tweedianum (Tweed murex)

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Hexaplex brassica (Cabbage murex)
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Hexaplex brassica (Cabbage murex)

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Hexaplex cichoreum (Endive murex)
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Hexaplex cichoreum (Endive murex)

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Hexaplex erythrostomus (Pink-mouthed murex)
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Hexaplex erythrostomus (Pink-mouthed murex)

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Hexaplex fulvescens (Giant Atlantic Murex)
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Hexaplex fulvescens (Giant Atlantic Murex)

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Hexaplex kuesterianus (Küster's Murex)
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Hexaplex kuesterianus (Küster's Murex)

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Hexaplex megacerus (Thick-spined murex)
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Hexaplex megacerus (Thick-spined murex)

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Hexaplex nigritus (Northern radix murex)
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Hexaplex nigritus (Northern radix murex)

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Hexaplex princeps (Prince murex)
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Hexaplex princeps (Prince murex)

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Hexaplex rosarium (Rosy-mouth murex)
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Hexaplex rosarium (Rosy-mouth murex)

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Hexaplex stainforthi (Stainforth's murex)
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Hexaplex stainforthi (Stainforth's murex)

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Murex acanthostephes
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Murex acanthostephes

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Murex aduncospinosus (Short-spined murex)
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Murex aduncospinosus (Short-spined murex)

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Murex brevispina macgillivrayi (MacGillivray's woodcock murex)
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Murex brevispina macgillivrayi (MacGillivray's woodcock murex)

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Murex coppingeri
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Murex coppingeri

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Murex djarianensis poppei
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Murex djarianensis poppei

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Murex echinodes
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Murex echinodes

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Murex falsitribulus
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Murex falsitribulus

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Murex occa (Harrowed Murex)
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Murex occa (Harrowed Murex)

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Murex pecten (Venus comb murex)
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Murex pecten (Venus comb murex)

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Murex philippinensis
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Murex philippinensis

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Murex scolopax (Woodcock murex)
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Murex scolopax (Woodcock murex)

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Murex spinastreptos
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Murex spinastreptos

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Murex tenuirostrum
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Murex tenuirostrum

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Murex ternispina (Black spined murex)
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Murex ternispina (Black spined murex)

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Murex trapa (Rare-spined Murex)
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Murex trapa (Rare-spined Murex)

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Murex troscheli troscheli (Troschel's murex)
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Murex troscheli troscheli (Troschel's murex)

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Naquetia annandalei (Annandale's murex)
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Naquetia annandalei (Annandale's murex)

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Naquetia cumingii (Cuming's murex)
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Naquetia cumingii (Cuming's murex)

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Phyllonotus pomum (Apple murex)
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Phyllonotus pomum (Apple murex)

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Pterochelus acanthopterus (Thorny-winged murex)
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Pterochelus acanthopterus (Thorny-winged murex)

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Pterochelus akation
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Pterochelus akation

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Pterochelus duffusi
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Pterochelus duffusi

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Pterochelus triformis (Triangle murex)
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Pterochelus triformis (Triangle murex)

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Pterynotus alatus (Pinnate murex)
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Pterynotus alatus (Pinnate murex)

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Pterynotus bipinnatus (Pinnacle murex)
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Pterynotus bipinnatus (Pinnacle murex)

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Pterynotus martinetanus (Fenestrate murex)
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Pterynotus martinetanus (Fenestrate murex)

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Pterynotus pellucidus (Pellucid murex)
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Pterynotus pellucidus (Pellucid murex)

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Purpurellus gambiensis (Gambia murex)
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Purpurellus gambiensis (Gambia murex)

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Siratus alabaster (Alabaster murex)
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Siratus alabaster (Alabaster murex)

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Siratus articulatus (Antilles murex)
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Siratus articulatus (Antilles murex)

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Siratus beauii (Beau's murex)
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Siratus beauii (Beau's murex)

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Siratus coltrorum
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Siratus coltrorum

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Siratus formosus
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Siratus formosus

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Siratus pliciferoides (Japanese spike murex)
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Siratus pliciferoides (Japanese spike murex)

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Siratus tenuivaricosus
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Siratus tenuivaricosus

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Timbellus bednalli (Bednall's murex)
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Timbellus bednalli (Bednall's murex)

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Timbellus phyllopterus (Leafy winged murex)
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Timbellus phyllopterus (Leafy winged murex)

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Vokesimurex bobyini
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Vokesimurex bobyini

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Vokesimurex cabritii (Cabrit Murex)
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Vokesimurex cabritii (Cabrit Murex)

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Vokesimurex chrysostoma (gold-mouthed murex)
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Vokesimurex chrysostoma (gold-mouthed murex)

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Vokesimurex elenensis (Santa Elena murex)
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Vokesimurex elenensis (Santa Elena murex)

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Vokesimurex kiiensis (Kii Murex)
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Vokesimurex kiiensis (Kii Murex)

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Vokesimurex lindajoyceae
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Vokesimurex lindajoyceae

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Vokesimurex malabaricus (Malabar murex)
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Vokesimurex malabaricus (Malabar murex)

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Vokesimurex messorius (Mesorius murex)
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Vokesimurex messorius (Mesorius murex)

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Vokesimurex mindanaoensis (Mindanao murex)
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Vokesimurex mindanaoensis (Mindanao murex)

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Vokesimurex multiplicatus bantamensis
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Vokesimurex multiplicatus bantamensis

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Vokesimurex olssoni
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Vokesimurex olssoni

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Vokesimurex recurvirostris
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Vokesimurex recurvirostris

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Vokesimurex rubidus (Rose murex)
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Vokesimurex rubidus (Rose murex)

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