Tyrian Purple

August 28, 2000
From: Mary Townsend

I would like to know whether or not tyrian purple was obtained from the Sea Hare, and if not which shellfish was it obtained from.
Mary Townsend

kozianski@fastlink.com.au

Townsend, M., 2000 (Aug 28) Tyrian Purple. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2936

Dear Mary,
Tyrian Purple was a 'red' rather than purple dye, first made in Tyre in the eastern Mediterranean 2-3000 years ago in what was probably one of the earliest chemical industries. The dye was obtained from the hypobranchial gland of muricid snails (Murex, Thais spp). The purple ink produced by Sea Hares, which is also reddish, is quite different and not permanent.

You should find references to the dye in good reference books. On a quick search on the web I found a site Dyes in History & Archaeology which has some basic information on Tyrian Purple.

Best wishes,
Bill Rudman.

Rudman, W.B., 2000 (Aug 28). Comment on Tyrian Purple by Mary Townsend. [Message in] Sea Slug Forum. Australian Museum, Sydney. Available from http://www.seaslugforum.net/find/2936

Factsheet

Ink glands

Related messages

  1. Is Sea Hare ink poisonous to fish?
    From: Nicole Chilson, January 15, 2007
  2. How to make dye from the Sea Hare ink.
    From: Ralph Bowen, August 3, 2006
  3. Dolabrifera dolabrifera - Dissection diagram for ink gland?
    From: Kathryn Clark, June 17, 2006
  4. Aplysia californica - ink
    From: Malvina Papanastasiou, March 23, 2006
  5. Separating Ink Components of Aplysia dactylometa?
    From: Scott Schwartz, March 6, 2006
  6. Re: Inking in Aplysia
    From: lorrie creach, October 24, 2005
  7. Pharmacokinetic peptides in Dolabella auricularia
    From: Sallie Dugan, July 29, 2004
  8. Sea Hare color purple
    From: Patricia, October 24, 2003
  9. Allergic to Sea Hare Ink?
    From: Martin Masters, August 13, 2003
  10. Do frightened Aplysia secrete ink involuntarily?
    From: Dr. Stephen Hoskins, September 24, 2002
  11. Re: Inking in Aplysia
    From: Edwin Cruz-Rivera, June 27, 2002
  12. Re: Inking in Aplysia
    From: Dr.Stephen R Hoskins, June 26, 2002
  13. Re: Effect of secretions on Aplysia
    From: Cathryn Clarke, June 26, 2002
  14. Effect of secretions on Aplysia
    From: Stephen Hoskins, June 22, 2002
  15. Ink Glands in Octopus and Sea Hares
    From: Nadine Schoene, March 21, 2002
  16. Sea Hares and Inking
    From: Melanie, March 22, 2001
  17. Sea Hare Self Defense
    From: Tina Paget, February 21, 2001
  18. Siphon Withdrawal Reflex in Sea Hares
    From: Steve Potts, December 15, 2000
  19. Turtles eating Sea Hares
    From: Michael D. Miller, May 5, 2000
  20. What Preys on Sea Hares?
    From: Claire, March 7, 2000
  21. Slugs that squirt ink
    From: Orso Angulo Campillo, November 25, 1999
  22. A new review of Sea Hare defence mechanisms
    From: Bill Rudman., August 14, 1999
  23. Re: Opaline Gland
    From: Assaf Zvuloni , June 28, 1999
  24. Re: Sea Hares - attack and defence
    From: Assaf Zvuloni, June 23, 1999
  25. Sea Hares - chemical defence
    From: Tom Nolen, February 22, 1999
  26. palatability of sea hares: personal experience
    From: Patrick Krug, Ph.D., September 9, 1998
  27. Re: Sea Hares - attack & defence
    From: Conxita Avila, May 19, 1998
  28. Re: Sea Hares - attack & defence
    From: P.M. Johnson, April 21, 1998
  29. Sea Hares - attack & defence
    From: P.M. Johnson, April 17, 1998

Show factsheet and all related messages