Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: Animalia |
| Phylum: Mollusca |
| Class: Gastropoda |
| Order: Neogastropoda |
| Family: Muricidae |
| Genus: Hexaplex |
| Species: Hexaplex fulvescens (Sowerby II, 1834) |
Information
Geological Range
Paleogeographic Distribution
Stratigraphic Occurrences
| Anastasia Formation [Questionable/rare] |
| Fort Thompson Formation [Questionable/rare] |
| Bermont Formation [Common] |
| Canepatch Formation [Questionable/rare] |
| Tamiami Formation (Pinecrest Beds) [Common] |
Remarks
Common name: Giant eastern murex or giant Atlantic murex.
Synonymy:
Synonymous with Murex fulvescens G. B. Sowerby II, 1834 (original combination).
Type specimen, locality, and stratum: n/a
Other voucher specimens: n/a
Descriptions:
First Full Description (from Reeve, 1845, p. 24-25):
“Shell pear-shaped, sometimes oblong, sometimes shorter and ventricose; whorls bi-angulated at the upper part, transversely ridged and striated, ridges minute, narrow, rather superficial; six- or seven-varicose, varices armed with frondlike spines throughout, spines canaliculated, slightly curved, the basal and those upon the posterior angles, longer, sharp-pointed; white, ridges reddish brown, stained here and there with small crescent-shaped spots of a deeper colour, interior of the aperture white, stained in places with ruddy spots; canal rather elongated, sometimes shorter, recurved.
Valenciennes, Kiener, Icon. Coq. viv. p. 49. pl. 41. f. 1. Hab. Gulf of Mexico.
This very interesting shell, of which a worn stunted example is represented in the ‘Conchological Illustrations,’ fig. 30, under the erroneous title of Murex turbinatus, was, I believe, originally distinguished by Mr. Sowerby by the name of Murex fulvescens; no description, however, appeared, and as the name was subsequently cancelled from the catalogue, I am obliged to yield to M. Valenciennes the honour of having first introduced the species.
The frond-like spines of the Murex spinicostata are of a sharp simple structure, exhibiting no indication of being foliated; but are singularly characterised in being armed with a small prickle on each side at about one-third of their entire length from the top. This character can, however, only be recognised in such specimens as have the spines well developed.”
To access this description in its original formatting through Google Books, click here.
Measurements: n/a
Other remarks:
For information on the modern distribution of the species, see Malacolog.
References: n/a
Online resources:
Page history:
Some of the content on this page was originally published on the Neogene Atlas of Ancient Life on July 22, 2014. It was developed by Jonathan R. Hendricks and colleagues and migrated here in 2026.
This page was last modified on October 28, 2026 by Jonathan R. Hendricks.
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