Shell of the Week: The Antilles Murex

Siratus articulatus is a shallow- to moderately deep-water Muricidae species living in the tropical western Atlantic, including the east coast of Florida, Florida Keys, and the Caribbean south to northeastern Brazil in depths between 16–400 m (about 52 to 1312 ft). Shells of this species can reach 95 mm (about 3.75 inches) in length, showing high degrees of variation in color and sculpture strength, in particular the size of spines and varices (the ridges that appear occasionally on the shell). The shell in this photo was collected off Sugarloaf Key in the Florida Keys.

Siratus articulatus from Sugarloaf Key, Lower Florida Keys. Illustration by Patricia A. Starkey.

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