Bolinus is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails. This genus is known in the fossil record from the Miocene to the Pliocene period (age range: from 15.97 to 2.588 million years ago.). Fossil shells within this genus have been found in Cyprus, Austria, Italy and Turkey. Some species of these molluscs were known since ancient times as a source for purple dye and also as a popular food source.

Description

The adult shells of Bolinus species can reach a size of about 60 - 200 mm. They are usually pale or golden brown, thick and spiny with a long and straight siphonal canal and a rounded and broad body whorl. They are carnivorous and predatory

Distribution

Snails within this genus mainly live along the Atlantic coast of Africa and in the Mediterranean Sea.

Habitat

They inhabit shallow water and prefer gravelled or rocky substrate.

Species

Species within the genus Bolinus include: Bolinus Brandaris Nivea Bucquoy, Dautzenberg & Dollfus, 1882 brandaris form trispinosus Locard 1886 Bolinus brandaris longispinus Coen 1914 brandaris form coronatus brandaris form trituberculatus brandaris form bicaudatus brandaris form cagliaritanus brandaris form brevis brandaris form polii brandaris form elongata brandaris form coronatus x polii brandaris form varicosus brandaris form rubiginosus Stigwan & Fabiod 2019