Ruthae Murex Shell, Vokesimurex ruthae

Ruthae Murex Shell, Vokesimurex ruthae. Shell collected off the beach of Bahía Concepción, Baja California Sur, October 2019. Size: 9.2 cm (3.6 inches) x 3.8 cm (1.5 inches). Collection, photograph and identification courtesy of Bob Hillis.

Ruthae Murex Shell, Vokesimurex ruthae. Shell collected off the beach at Punta Chivato, Baja California Sur, March 2022. Size: 7.3 cm (2.9 inches) x 3.6 cm (1.4 inches). Collection, photographs and identification courtesy of Colin Campbell, DVM, Punta Chivato, Baja California Sur.

Phylogeny: The Ruthae Murex, Vokesimurex ruthae (Vokes, 1988), is a gastropod mollusk that is a member of the Muricidae Family of Rock Shells. The genus Vokesimurex is one of one hundred ninety-eight genera in this family, and there are thirty-nine species in this genus. They are also known as the Santa Elena Murex Shell. Note: the Ruthae Murex Shell has historically been considered to be the Elena Murex Shell, Vokeimurex elensis until 1988 when Vokes separated the two species – elensis is a resident of Central and South American waters and ruthae is found within Mexican waters.

Description: Ruthae Murex Shells consist of six whorls and have a globose body whorl. Their most obvious feature is their very long canal, which is closed for most of its length. They have a moderately high spire and an oval aperture. The varices are sculpted with spines that continue along the canal. The outer lip of the aperture is decorated with spines that also continue down the siphon canal. The external surface of the shell is cream to yellowish-white. The interior is brownish to lavender. Ruthae Murex Shells reach a maximum of 10.5 cm (4.1 inches) in length and 5.2 cm (2.0 inches) in height. The Ruthae Murex Shell can be easily confused with the Bent Beak Murex Shell, Vokesimurex recurvirostris, and the Long-spine Murex, V. tricoronis, both of which have fewer spines along the siphon canal and outer lip.

Habitat and Distribution:  Ruthae Murex Shells reside on sand and mud substrates. They live at depths between 3 m (10 feet) and 15 m (50 feet). They are a subtropical to tropical Eastern Pacific species. In Mexican waters they are found in the Gulf of California, as far north as Guaymas, Sonora and Santa Rosalia, Baja California Sur, and range south to Guatemala.

Ecology and Behavior: Ruthae Murex Shells are a poorly studied and understood species. There is very limited documentation of their diet, predation, reproduction or ecosystem interactions. Other species in this genus are predators that feed primarily on shelled mollusks. They are gonochoric and reproduce sexually,  with internal fertilization. There is no mention in the available literature of them engaging in any types of parasitic, commensal, or symbiotic relationships. From a conservation perspective they have not been formally evaluated.

Synonyms: Murex (Haustellum) ruthae