Family : Muricidae
The elegant Venus comb (Murex pecten) is an edible gastropod frequent in the tropical Indo-Pacific up to the depth of 300 m. The shell, reaching 15 cm, has a very long siphonal canal but above all a great number of lateral spines arranged as comb for the collectors joy. Surely a defence weapon and for not sinking when hunting bivalves and other molluscs in muddy bottoms. Perhaps, seen the disposition on various planes, serves also to block the prey © Giuseppe Mazza
→ To appreciate the biodiversity within the MOLLUSCS please click here.