Biology:Heteropurpura

Short description: Extinct genus of gastropods

Heteropurpura Temporal range: Pliocene - Recent PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Fossil shell of Heteropurpura polymorpha from Pliocene of Italy
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Gastropoda
(unranked):	clade Caenogastropoda clade Hypsogastropoda clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily:	Muricoidea
Family:	Muricidae
Genus:	Heteropurpura Jousseaume, 1880
Species:	H. polymorpha
Binomial name
Heteropurpura polymorpha Brocchi 1814
Synonyms
Murex polymorphus

Heteropurpura is an extinct genus of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails.

Fossil records

The fossil record of this species dates back to the Pliocene (age range: 3.6 to 2.588 million years ago). These fossils have been found in Italy and Spain.

Description

Shells of Heteropurpura species can reach a size of about 35 millimetres (1.4 in).

Species

• †Heteropurpura polymorpha Brocchi 1814

References

Wikidata ☰ Q20706825 entry