Home > Invertebrates > Shells > Murex > Coralliophilinae

Family Muricidae

Subfamily Coralliophilinae

Coral-loving Shells

Some of these cryptic snails live and feed upon live corals.  They inhabit a home scar or burrow by devouring coral tissue and chemically eroding the skeleton.  Beautiful, highly-prized Latiaxis and Babelomurex are dredged from very deep-water.

 

INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

Coralliophila elaborata

 

ELABORATE CORAL-LOVING SHELL

 

 Coralliophila erosa

ERODED CORAL-LOVING SHELL

 
Coralliophila violacea

VIOLET-MOUTHED CORAL-LOVING SHELL

 

 Coralliophila fimbriata

FRINGED CORAL-LOVING SHELL

 
Quoyula monodonta

SINGLE-TOOTHED CORAL-LOVING SHELL