{{Short description|Subfamily of gastropods}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Muricopsis (Muricopsis) necocheanus 002.jpg |image_caption = An apertural view of a shell of ''Muricopsis (Muricopsis) necocheanus'' |taxon = Muricopsinae |authority = Radwin & D'Attilio, 1971 |synonyms_ref = <ref name="WoRMS" /> |synonyms = |subdivision_ranks = Genera |subdivision = ''See text'' |display_parents = 3 }}

'''Muricopsinae''' is a taxonomic subfamily of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks within the large family Muricidae, the murex snails and rock snails.<ref name="WoRMS">Houart, R. (2010). Muricopsinae. In: Bouchet, P.; Gofas, S.; Rosenberg, G. (2010) World Marine Mollusca database. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=395163 on 2010-12-24</ref>

A study, released in September 2010, showed that the subfamily Muricopsinae is polyphyletic<ref>{{cite journal|last=Barco|first=A. |author2=M. Claremont |author3=D.G. Reid |author4=R. Houart |author5=P. Bouchet |author6=S.T. Williams |author7=C. Cruaud |author8=A. Couloux |author9=M. Oliverio|title=A molecular phylogenetic framework for the Muricidae, a diverse family of carnivorous gastropods |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|date=September 2010|volume=56|issue=3|pages=1025–1039|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2010.03.008|pmid=20226866}}</ref>

==Characteristics== This subfamily has been delineated based on the characteristics of the operculum and the radula.

The shell is wide in the middle and tapers at both ends, making it fusiform to biconic. The size of the shell varies in length between 5&nbsp;mm and 85&nbsp;mm. Its color is white or brown, covered with subdued shades of brown, orange, red or purple markings. The aperture is broadly oval to almost round and is of variable size. Contrary to the other Muricidae, the siphonal canal, the semi-tubular extension of the aperture, is of moderate length. Like the other murex shells, each convex whorl shows a variable number (four or more) of more or less prominent varices (a thickened axial ridge in the shell), which, in turn, show foliaceous or spinose projections.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=8C2sAAAAIAAJ&pg=PP14 George E. Radwin and Anthony D'Attilio, ''Murex Shells of the World'', Stanford University Press, 1976 ]</ref>

The operculum is the same as in the subfamily Muricinae. It is unguiculate, thickened at the margin and depressed and annulate in the middle.

The rachiglossan radula has in each row a three-dimensional rachidian tooth with a raised central cusp and two lateral teeth, as in the subfamily Ocenebrinae.

==Distribution== The genera in this subfamily are distributed worldwide, mainly in tropical and subtropical waters, at depths between 0 and 300 m.

==Genera== * ''Acanthotrophon'' <small>Hertlein & Strong, 1951</small> * ''Bizetiella'' <small>Radwin & D'Attilio, 1972</small> * ''Eofavartia'' <small>Merle, 2002</small> * ''Favartia'' <small>Jousseaume, 1880</small> * ''Homalocantha'' <small>Mörch, 1852</small> * ''Maxwellia'' <small>Baily, 1950</small> * ''Murexsul'' <small>Iredale, 1915</small> * ''Muricopsis'' <small>Bucquoy & Dautzenberg, 1882</small> * ''Pazinotus'' <small>E.H. Vokes, 1970</small> * ''Pradoxa'' <small>Fernandes & Rolan, 1993</small> * ''Pygmaepterys'' <small>E. H. Vokes, 1978</small> * ''Rolandiella'' <small>B.A. Marshall & Burch, 2000</small> * ''Subpterynotus'' <small>Olsson & Harbison, 1953</small> * ''Vitularia'' <small>Swainson, 1840</small> * ''Xastilia'' <small>Bouchet & Houart, 1994</small>

Several genera that were recognized in the past have now become synonyms : * ''Minnimurex'' Woolacott, 1957 accepted as ''Murexiella'' Clench & Farfante, 1945 * ''Murexiella'' Clench & Farfante, 1945 accepted as ''Favartia (Murexiella)'' Clench & Perez Farfante, 1945 * ''Paradoxa'' Fernandes & Rolan, 1990 accepted as ''Pradoxa'' Fernandes & Rolan, 1993 * ''Paradoxon'' Fernandes & Rolán, 1990 accepted as ''Pradoxa'' Fernandes & Rolan, 1993 * ''Risomurex'' Olsson & McGinty, 1958 accepted as ''Muricopsis (Risomurex)'' Olsson & McGinty, 1958 * ''Transtrafer'' Iredale, 1929 accepted as ''Vitularia'' Swainson, 1840

==References== {{Reflist}}

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Category:Muricopsinae Category:Muricidae Category:Taxa named by George Edward Radwin Category:Taxa named by Anthony D'Attilio