Latin Etymology: Nucella ("small nut") lapillus ("small stone")
Adult Dog Whelk (Nucella lapillus) at Trevose Head, Cornwall - May 2016
Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ? / Length: 4cm
IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated
The Dog Whelk is a small predatory snail that feeds upon other molluscs. It lives in rocky habitats where it moves over the surface of the rocks looking to feed on other mollusc species. It possesses a complex system of feeding organs designed to allow it to drill through shells and absorb the contents, including the use of enzymes designed to soften the shells. It is very variable in colour, and while yellow is frequent in the places I've visited it can come in orange, brown, black, green blue or pink.
Related Species:
ORDER: ?
FAMILY: Muricidae
GENUS: Nucella
SUBSPECIES: ?
- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - Locally common resident.
- Fairly common at Trevose Head,
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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