Pink-Mouth Murex

The Pink-Mouth Murex is native to the tropical and subtropical Panamic Province along the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its range extends from the Gulf of California and Baja California, Mexico, southwards to Peru.This shell has a spiny exterior with a bright pink mouth - making it a very attractive specimen. 

 

SPECIES: Phyllonotus erythrostomus (Swainson, 1831) [syn. Hexaplex erythrostomus / Murex erythrostomus] Despite its beauty, this species is a voracious carnivorous predator; feeding primarily on bivalves (clams, oysters, and mussels) by drilling through their shells using its radula or prising them open with the margin of its shell. 

 Unfortunately surveys show a dramatic drop in live populations compared to the mid-20th century. Today, the species is frequently found in massive waste piles left behind by commercial fisheries rather than thriving on reefs.  

Cultural use and Human Significance: these shells were historically harvested by Indigenous communities along the Gulf of California and Pacific Mexico as a reliable food source. The thick, vibrant pink area was traditionally carved into buttons, shell inlay, beads, and ornamental adornments. Marine molluscs from the family Muricidae hold great potential for development as a source of therapeutically useful compounds. Traditionally known for the production of the ancient dye Tyrian purple, these molluscs also form the basis of some rare traditional medicines that have been used for thousands of years. In particular, Muricidae produce a suite of brominated indoles with anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and steroidogenic activity, as well as choline esters with muscle-relaxing and pain relieving properties. These compounds could explain some of the traditional uses in wound healing, stomach pain and menstrual problems.