Chicoreus brevifrons

Housing of Chicoreus brevifrons

The short Thorny murex or Kurzsprossige murex ( Chicoreus brevifrons ) is a snail from the family of whelks ( Muricidae ), which is widespread in the western Atlantic. It feeds mainly on mollusks.

Features

The somewhat spindle-shaped, thick and heavy, transversely ridged and striped shell of Chicoreus brevifrons, which reaches a length of 15 cm in adult worm has occupied a bulbous body handling, a high, conical thread and is equipped with three rows of foliage -folded, rather short sprouts, between each of which a large hump sits. The housing is white and often surrounded with red lines, but can vary the color. The case mouth is white.

Dissemination

The short Thorny snail sting occurs in the western Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Venezuela and Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea on.

Habitat

The short Thorny murex lives in sheltered bays and lagoons on mud next to oyster colonies and in mangroves.

Food

Chicoreus brevifrons eats especially mussels and snails, whose shell is either pierced with the radula when exposed to acids or opened by applying pressure to the feet of the robber. The preferred prey species include oysters and ark shells.

Relevance to humans

Chicoreus brevifrons, known for a long time under the original name Murex brevifrons of Lamarck, is collected because of its housing, which is sold as jewelry. The meat is eaten raw or cooked.