Babelomurex japonicus, common name the Japanese latiaxis, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.
Description The length of the shell varies between 25 mm and 50 mm.
(Original description in Latin) The shell is fusiform and milk-white, consisting of eight whorls. These whorls are equipped with equal, dense, and narrow ribs that are minutely overlapping, as well as a double row of large scales that occupies the upper part of the whorls. The aperture is ovate. The outer lip is ribbed on the inside, while the columella is very slightly sinuous. The rostrum is straight, and the siphonal canal is open.
With respect to its ribs and scales, this shell is analogous to Babelomurex lischkeanus (Dunker, 1882), but it differs sufficiently to be regarded as a distinct, genuine species. Indeed, it differs not only in having equal, narrower, and higher ribs—which are therefore more clearly defined—but also in possessing a double rather than a single row of large scales occupying the upper part of the whorls. Furthermore, these scales are not smooth, but are striated and minutely serrated on the right side (that is, the back). ttribution}}
Distribution This marine species is found in the following countries, Japan, the Philippines,Hawaii, New Caledonia, Tonga Islands and Vanuatu.
References
Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. China Science Press. 1267 pp Oliverio M. (2008) Coralliophilinae (Neogastropoda: Muricidae) from the southwest Pacific. In: V. Héros, R.H. Cowie & P. Bouchet (eds), Tropical Deep-Sea Benthos 25. Mémoires du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle 196: 481–585. page(s): 523 Oliverio M. 2008. Coralliophilinae (Neogastropoda: Muricidae) from the Marquesas Islands. Journal of Conchology 39(5): 569-584 Kilburn R.N., Marais J.P. & Marais A.P. (2010) Coralliophilinae. pp. 272–292, in: Marais A.P. & Seccombe A.D. (eds), Identification guide to the seashells of South Africa. Volume 1. Groenkloof: Centre for Molluscan Studies. 376 pp. Severns M. (2011) Shells of the Hawaiian Islands - The Sea Shells. Conchbooks, Hackenheim. 564 pp.
External links
Jousseaume F. (1883). Description d'espèces et genres nouveaux de mollusques. Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France. 8: 186-204, pl. 10