08-18-2018, 09:23 AM
Beautiful pure white shell from the PI.
Besides there use for dyestuff manufacture in the Mediterranean, the Muricidae are found nearly worldwide: Australia, New Zealand, Mexico. They have a unique metabolic pathway that starts with the amino acid tryptophan & results in a colorless molecule that contains bromine, one of the halogens it extracts from sea water. Bromine tends to make chemicals containing it toxic & it is thought that this brominated indole compound is used for antimicrobial protection of the snail's egg masses.
Besides there use for dyestuff manufacture in the Mediterranean, the Muricidae are found nearly worldwide: Australia, New Zealand, Mexico. They have a unique metabolic pathway that starts with the amino acid tryptophan & results in a colorless molecule that contains bromine, one of the halogens it extracts from sea water. Bromine tends to make chemicals containing it toxic & it is thought that this brominated indole compound is used for antimicrobial protection of the snail's egg masses.