Muricinae is a taxonomic subfamily of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs within the large family Muricidae, the murex snails and rock snails.
The Muricinae represent approximately 780 valid names of fossil (378) and recent (400) species.Merle, D., Garrigues, B. & Pointier, J.-P. (2011): Fossil and Recent Muricidae of the World, Part Muricinae. 648 pp., 182 colour plates, ConchBooks, Hackenheim. . This subfamily contains the true Murex, and many other closely related genera.
Systematics The subdivision of the Muricidae into subfamilies is mainly based on the work of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005), who combined morphological and molecular data in order to define the Muricinae. However, based on latest knowledge this subfamily might represent a polyphyletic group. Traditional the Muricinae are subdivided into five informal groups, which contain 47 genera and subgenera:
1. Muricinae (s.s.) group Flexopteron Shuto, 1969 Murex (s.s) Linnaeus, 1758 M. (Promurex) Ponder & Vokes, 1988 Haustellum Schumacher, 1817 Vokesimurex Petuch, 1994 Siratus Jousseaume, 1880 Bolinus Pusch, 1837 Hexaplex (s.s.) Perry, 1811 H. (Trunculariopsis) Cossmann, 1921 Muricanthus Swainson, 1840 Chicoreus (s.s.) Montfort, 1810 C. (Chicopinnatus) Houart, 1992 C. (Rhizophorimurex) Oyama, 1950 C. (Triplex) Perry, 1810 Chicomurex Arakawa, 1964 Phyllonotus Swainson, 1833 Naquetia Jousseaume, 1880
2. Pterynotus-Textilomurex group Pterynotus (s.s) Swainson, 1833 P. (Pterymarchia) Houart, 1995 Textiliomurex Merle, 2011
3. Basal muricids group Timbellus de Gregorio, 1885 Pterochelus Jousseaume, 1880 Purpurellus Jousseaume, 1880 Ponderia Houart, 1986 Prototyphis Ponder, 1972 Poirieria (s.s) Jousseaume, 1880 P. (Actinotrophon) Dall, 1902 P. (Caelobassus) Stilwell & Zinsmeister, 1992 P. (Pagodula) Monterosato, 1884 Paziella (s.s) Jousseaume, 1880 P. (Bouchetia) Houart & Héros, 2008 Crassimurex (s.s) Merle, 1990 C. (Eopaziella) Gürs, 2001 Harmatia Noszky, 1940 Gamurex Merle, 2011 Falsimuricopsis Merle, 2011
4. Calotrophon-Attiliosa group Calotrophon (s.s) Hertlein & Strong, 1951 C. (Acantholabia) Olsson & Harbison, 1953 C. (Panamurex) Woodring, 1959
The subfamilial place of the last groups should be regarded as provisional.
References
Bouchet, P. & Rocroi, J.-P. (2005): Part 2. Working classification of the Gastropoda. Malacologia, 47: 239–283, Ann Arbor. .