Conomurex persicus (Swainson, 1821)
Persian Gulf, Eastern to Central Mediterranean (Tunisia). Absent from Red Sea (Ghazi, 2014). Grazer and detritus feeder on various grounds of the upper infralittoral.
Original taxon: Strombus persicus.
5-8m deep, Ayía Nápa, Famagousta, SE. Cyprus. 60mm.
A low-spired specimen from the eastern part of the range: in sand at 3-8m deep, Martini Bay, Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, Arab Emirates. 47mm.
Synonym: flammeus Link. Above and below: specimens from shallow water, Kiryat Yam, Haifa, NW. Israel. 43-68mm. The operculum at left is correctly mounted.
Left: unusual specimen from the bay.
Right: average pattern on a large specimen.
Live specimen pictured on shallow sand, Karpathos island, S. Dodecanese, by R. Pillon for WoRMS – (CC BY-NC-SA).
A specimen in natural conditions, with algae and perio.
2m deep, crawling on the rocky bank, Paralia Milatou, Lasithi, N. Crete. 41,5mm.
Strombus persicus in W. Swainson: Zoological illustrations vol. I, London 1821, table LIII.
« Shell somewhat coniform, short; spire conic, equal. Outer lip prominent, sinuated above, smooth within; inner lip polished, white. » – This white aperture is not a constant feature, but the smoothness of the inner lip is a reliable one.
Juvenile. 8m deep, east of Mochlos, NE. of Kolpos Mirabellou, Lasithi. 4,5mm.
Other synonym: decorus raybaudi Nicolay & Manoja.
25-30m deep, on sand, Limassol, S. Cyprus. 50mm.
Last synonym: ismarius Duclos in Chenu.
8m deep, on sand, mud, gravel and shell debris, near reef, Ormos point, Agios Nikolaos, Lasithi. 57-67mm.
6m deep, in sand pockets among Posidonia patches, municipal beach of Havania, Agios Nikolaos. 45-57mm.
Same spot. Shape and pattern variations. 45-50mm.
5m, muddy sand with Posidonia, Milos, Cyclades. 46-51,5mm.
The eyes, the operculum.
Taşucu, Silifke, Mersin province, SE. Turkey.
Original picture provided by T. Prozorova for iNaturalist.
(CC Ø)
Young adult specimens collected at 2-10m deep, on rocks, in a sheltered area protected by reefs, west of the small harbour of Ferma, east of Ierapetra, SE. Crete. 35,5-49mm.

Same spot. 39-50mm.
Same spot. Pattern variation on a same shell. 42mm.
4m deep, on sandy bottom, Kárystos bay, south coast of Évvia island, E. Greece. 60,5mm.
3m deep, Pozzolana di Ponente, western coast of Linosa island, Isole Pelagie, central Mediterranean. Original pictures provided by A. Nappo (IT) – (CC BY-NC-SA).
Above and below: on sand in shallow water, Tolo bay, Nafplio, Argolis, E. Peloponnese, S. Greece. Original picture provided by R. Pillon for iNaturalist – (CC BY-NC).
In the genus, the eyes are particularly well developed organs.
A specimen pictured in the Gulf of Corinth, northern coast, at Agios Vasileios bay, SW. of Galaxidi, Fokídha, Central Greece. Original picture provided by R. Pillon for iNaturalist.
– (CC BY-NC) –

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