Muricinae is a taxonomic subfamily of predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks within the large family Muricidae, the murex snails and rock snails.
The Muricinae represent approximately 780 valid names of fossil (378) and recent (400) species (Merle et al. 2011). This subfamily contains the true Murex, and many other closely related genera.
The subdivision of the Muricidae into ten subfamilies is mainly based on the work of Bouchet & Rocroi (2005), who combined morphological and molecular data in order to define the Muricinae. However, based on latest knowledge this subfamily might represent a polyphyletic group. Traditional the Muricinae are subdivided into five informal groups, which contain 47 genera and subgenera (Merle et al. 2011):
1. Muricinae (s.s.) group
Murex (s.s) Linnaeus, 1758M. (Promurex) Ponder & Vokes, 1988Haustellum Schumacher, 1817Vokesimurex Petuch, 1994Siratus Jousseaume, 1880Bolinus Pusch, 1837Hexaplex (s.s.) Perry, 1811H. (Muricanthus) Swainson, 1840H. (Trunculariopsis) Cossmann, 1921Chicoreus (s.s.) Montfort, 1810C. (Chicopinnatus) Houart, 1992C. (Rhizophorimurex) Oyama, 1950C. (Triplex) Perry, 1810Chicomurex Arakawa, 1964Phyllonotus Swainson, 1833Naquetia Jousseaume, 1880
2. Pterynotus-Textilomurex group
Pterynotus (s.s) Swainson, 1833P. (Pterymarchia) Houart, 1995Textiliomurex Merle, 2011
3. Basal muricids group
Timbellus de Gregorio, 1885Pterochelus Jousseaume, 1880Purpurellus Jousseaume, 1880Ponderia Houart, 1986Prototyphis Ponder, 1972Poirieria (s.s) Jousseaume, 1880P. (Actinotrophon) Dall, 1902P. (Caelobassus) Stilwell & Zinsmeister, 1992P. (Pagodula) Monterosato, 1884Paziella (s.s) Jousseaume, 1880P. (Bouchetia) Houart & Héros, 2008P. (Flexopteron) Shuto, 1969Crassimurex (s.s) Merle, 1990C. (Eopaziella) Gürs, 2001Harmatia Noszky, 1940Gamurex Merle, 2011Falsimuricopsis Merle, 2011
4. Calotrophon-Attiliosa group
Calotrophon (s.s) Hertlein & Strong, 1951C. (Acantholabia) Olsson & Harbison, 1953C. (Panamurex) Woodring, 1959Attiliosa Emerson, 1968
5. Aspelloid group
Aspella Mörch, 1877Dermomurex (s.s.) Monterosato, 1890D. (Gracilimurex) Thiele, 1929D. (Takia) Kuroda, 1953D. (Trialatella) Berry, 1964D. (Viator) Vokes, 1974Ingensia Houart, 2001
The subfamilial place of the four last groups should be regarded as provisional.