miércoles, 26 de junio de 2013

Trunculariposis trunculus

Trunculariposis trunculus
BUSANO, CORNETA
MURICIDAE
Mediterráneo y Atlántico próximo.
Substratos blandos e duros, zoa mesoliteral e máis fondo

This species of sea snail is important historically because its hypobranchial gland secretes a mucus that the ancient Canaanites/Phoenicians used as a distinctive purple-blue indigo dye. One of the dye's main chemical ingredients is dibromo-indigotin, and if left in the sun for a few minutes before becoming fast, its color turns to a blue indigo (like blue jeans).