The marine gastropod genus Morum Röding, 1798 (Volutoidea; Harpidae) is circumtropical in distribution. The over two dozen living species are found on or near hard substrates from the intertidal zone to several hundred meters of water, most preferring depths of over 50 m.  The most speciose and geologically oldest of three subgenera, Oniscidia, and the monotypic genus Herculea are presently limited to the Indo-Pacific province, while Morum sensu stricto, with four species, has always been New World in distribution. Morum seems to have arisen in the Oligocene, and an analysis of its radula, soft anatomy, and habits has pointed toward an affinity with the genus Harpa, with which it probably shared an Eocene ancestor.

    From a collector's perspective, Morum is an appealing and challenging group.  The shells are attractive, medium to large in size (10 to 75 mm.), and a few are almost unthinkably rare.  All Recent species are illustrated in this group of web pages.

View Images Of All 28 Species [of Recent species/forms]