Purpura (gastropod)

Purpura
Purpura bufo and 2 shells of Purpura persica (Lovell Augustus Reeve, 1843. Conchologia iconica, or, Illustrations of the shells of molluscous animals)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Muricidae
Subfamily: Rapaninae
Genus: Purpura
Bruguière, 1789
Type species
Buccinum persicum Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms[1]

Purpura Martini, 1777

Purpura is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the subfamily Rapaninae of the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.[1]

Not to be confused with Purpura Jousseaume, 1880, a synonym of Bolinus Pusch, 1837 [2]

Description

The genus Purpura is characterised by having large shells with large apertures, a concave columella and no external calcitic layer. The rachidian teeth have prominent marginal denticles.[3]

The shell is oblong-oval, the body whorl large. The spire is short. The aperture is ovate, large, with an oblique channel or groove at the fore part. The columella is flattened. The outer lip is simple. [4]

Distribution

The Purpura and related genera inhabit the seas both of temperate and tropical climates. Many species produce a fluid which gives a dull crimson dye, whence their name of purple shells. Their egg-cases are membranous, oval or spheroidal, sometimes solitary, sometimes united in masses, each sac containing many embryos.

Species

Species within the genus Purpura include:

Species brought into synonymy

In the course of time, several hundred species were included in the genus Purpura.

References

  1. ^ a b Purpura Bruguière, 1789. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010.
  2. ^ MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Purpura Jousseaume, 1880. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=396916 on 2022-03-07
  3. ^ Tan, K. S. (March 2000). "Species checklist of Muricidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the South China Sea" (PDF). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 48 (8): 495–512.
  4. ^ Adams, H. & Adams, A. (1853-1858). The genera of Recent Mollusca; arranged according to their organization. London, van Voorst. Vol. 1: xl + 484 pp.; vol. 2: 661 pp.; vol. 3: 138 pls
  5. ^ Purpura bufo Lamarck, 1822. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010.
  6. ^ Purpura persica (Linnaeus, 1758). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010.
  7. ^ Purpura hippocastanum Lamarck. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010.
  8. ^ Purpura hystrix Linnaeus. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010.
  9. ^ Purpura lapillus (Linnaeus, 1758). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010.
  10. ^ Purpura mancinella (Linnaeus, 1758). Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010.
  11. ^ Purpura rudolphi Lamarck, 1822. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species on 25 April 2010.
  • Claremont, M., Vermeij, G. J., Williams, S. T. & Reid, D. G. (2013). Global phylogeny and new classification of the Rapaninae (Gastropoda: Muricidae), dominant molluscan predators on tropical rocky seashores. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 66: 91–102.


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