These are carnivorous marine gastropod molluscs in the family Muricidae, commonly called "murexes" or "rock snails".

The connection between these terms suggests a shared linguistic root, possibly linked to the Greek word μῦς (mys), meaning "mouse," due to the perceived resemblance between the shape of certain mollusks and mice.

[citation needed] This genus includes many showy members, their elongate shells highly sculptured with spines or fronds.

During the 19th century, the definition of Murex was restricted by Lamarck and his contemporaries first to species in the family Muricidae, and then was limited even further to the subfamilies Muricinae and Ocenebrinae.

Malacologists of the 19th century including Kiener, Reeve, Küster & Kobelt and Sowerby treated all muricoid forms as belonging to Murex.