Hexaplex trunculus
{{Taxobox
color = pink | name = Hexaplex trunculus | image = Murex_Trunculus_Shell.gif | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Mollusca | classis = Gastropoda | subclassis = Orthogastropoda | ordo = Sorbeoconcha | familia = Muricidae | genus = Hexaplex | species = H. trunculus | binomial = Hexaplex trunculus | binomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1758 | synonyms = Murex trunculus
Phyllanotus trunculus
Truncullariopsis trunculus
Hexaplex trunculus (known as the trunculus murex, purple murex or banded dye-murex) is a marine snail that produces a distinctive purple dye, considered valuable in ancient times and often used to dye fabrics; if left in the sun for a few minutes, the dye turns blue rather than purple. The dye is sometimes called "royal" or "imperial purple" as its price put it beyond the reach of all but the wealthiest; allegedly, 60,000 murex were needed to produce one pound of dye. A similar dye, "Tyrian purple" was made from the related Murex brandaris.
H. trunculus has a broadly conical shell about 4 to 10 cm long. It occurs in shallow, sublittoral waters of the Mediterranean and the bordering west Atlantic Ocean.
It has a rather high spire with seven angulated whorls. The shell is variable in sculpture and colouring with dark banding, and gives four varieties. The ribs may develop thickenings or spines and give the shell a rough appearance.
H. trunculus is also the shell widely thought to yield the techelet dye of the Bible, used for the fringes of clothing. For information, see tzitzit.
Synonyms : Murex trunculus, L. 1758; Phyllanotus trunculus, Truncullariopsis trunculus L., 1758.
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