Description:-
Shell moderately large in size; fusiform; spire acute; body whorl large and inflated; sculpture composed of four rounded varices ornamented with 6 to 7 strong spiral cords alternating with a few minor cords; inter spaces ornamented with fine threads; shoulder bearing a prominent spine; spine s on lower poaret of body whorl wing like; aperture large; ovate; anal sulcus not deep; outer lip thick, coarsely denticulate with a conspicuous tooth on the lower part; inner lip slightly twisted at anterior region; siphonal canal broad and distally curved upwards; colour pale brown with a slight pinkish band on middle of body whorl; aperture white, margin of aperture pinkish white.
Synonyms:-
Chicoreus (Chicoreus) virgineus (Röding, 1798)
Murex anguliferus Lamarck, 1822 (synonym)
Murex cyacantha G. B. Sowerby II, 1879 (synonym)
Murex erythraeus P. Fischer, 1870 (synonym)
Murex ferrugo Wood, 1828 (synonym)
Murex ponderosus G. B. Sowerby II, 1879 (synonym)
Murex tricostatus Fischer von Waldheim, 1807 (synonym)
Murex virgineus (Röding, 1798)
Murex virgineus var. ponderosa G. B. Sowerby II, 1879
Muricanthus virgineus (Röding, 1798)
Purpura rudis Link, 1807 (synonym)
Purpura virginea Röding, 1798 (original combination)
References:-
Franklin, J.B. and Laladhas, K.P. 2014. Marine Gastropods of Kerala. Kerala State Biodiversity Board. 186pp.