Babelomurex couturieri 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 and . The holotype measures 37 mm in length and 21 mm in diameter.
(Original description) The shell is white, somewhat solid, and shaped like a kiosk, featuring spiral ridges and fine striations. The spire is elongated and sharply pointed. There are 8 angular whorls; the first ones are crowned above the angle with sickle-shaped spines. The body whorl is concavely depressed at its base, surrounded in that area by very small, spiny ridges, and showing at its periphery two larger, unequal ridges. The suture is crowned above with spines. The aperture is semi-oval and smooth on the inside.Jousseaume, F., 1898. Description de coquilles nouvelles. Le Naturaliste 12: 22, sér. 2° série
Distribution This marine species occurs off Vietnam, New Britain (in the Bismarck Archipelago) and Japan.
References
Kosuge S. & Suzuki M. (1985). Illustrated catalogue of Latiaxis and its related groups, Family Coralliophilidae. Institute of Malacology of Tokyo, Special Publication. 1: v + 83 pp., 50 pls. 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): 540 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
MNHN, Paris: syntype