Lace Murex

Chicoreus dilectus

The lace murex is extremely popular among collectors on Lee County Beaches. Its popularity is based upon the shell's beautiful and unique shape. The spire is more conical than the apple murex and the shell
is more elongated.

The body whorls are adorned with three varices, one on each side and one down the middle of the back of the shell. Protruding from each of the varices are hollow spines which are frond-like and resemble frilly lace. When the shell is found with all of the "lace" intact it can be truly spectacular. This shell resembles nothing else on the beach, and it is both easy to spot
and to identify.

The lace murex exhibits no color patterns, only color forms. The shell ranges from white to almost black. Most intact specimens have various amounts of brown present with the white.

The amazing thing about this species is that so few are found alive.

It is known to feed and dwell in similar places as the apple murex, but while live apple murex were extremely abundant, fewer live specimens of lace murex are found. Dead specimens, however, are fairly common.

Shell Identification Guide

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