Chicoreus capucinus

The mangrove murex (Chicoreus capucinus) is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

Distribution and habitat
These sea snails are widespread in the Indo-Pacific, from Philippines and Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia) to Fiji and the Solomon Islands. They live in mangroves and mud flats.



Description
Shells of Chicoreus capucinus can reach a size of 40 - 120 mm. These large shells are heavy and solid, elaborately textured, uniformly dark brown, with six convex whorls. They are sculptured with prominent spiral cords, axial ribs and striae. The aperture is rounded or oviform, brown tinged and the inner labial edge show 14–17 denticles. The siphonal canal is quite long. The operculum is dark brown.

Biology
These voracious predators feed on the barnacles growing on mangroves and on mussels, snails and worms.