Bolinus brandaris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Purple dye murex
Bolinus brandaris
photo by FAO

Family:  Muricidae (purpuras, murex and rock shells)
Max. size:  10.77 cm ShL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 79.7 g
Environment:  benthic; marine; depth range 1 - 200 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean: from Portugal to central Morocco in the Atlantic, and east to Lebanon. Introduced in Atlantic Spain.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Has high economic value since ancient times because it is used to produce a purple dye (Refs. 78459, 78460 and 78461). Carnivorous and feeds on bivalves and other gastropods (Ref. 2532).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

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