Genus Babelomurex Coen, 1922

Babelomurex Coen, 1922: 68 .

Langfordia Dall, 1924: 89 (type species by original designation: Murex cuspidifera Dall, 1924).

Tolema Iredale, 1929: 186 (type species [ICZN 1970]: “ Tolema australis Laseron, 1955 ”) (incorrect name used = Rapana lischkeanus Dunker, 1882).

TYPE SPECIES. — Fusus babelis Requien, 1848 (by original designation); Recent, north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean.

REMARKS

The species of Babelomurex have been classified in the past into several subgenera, based on shell features (e.g., Kosuge & Suzuki 1985; Higo et al. 1999, 2000). I have preferred a more conservative position, pending the establishment of a reliable phylogenetic scheme for these putative taxa. Preliminary DNA data (Oliverio et al. 2009) indicate that also this genus, as traditionally conceived, is polyphyletic, and probably also its synonymy list is destined to change.