Knobbed whelk [Busycon carica]
Description
The Knobbed whelk is a large, predatory sea snail found along the East Coast of North America, from Massachusetts to northern Florida. It prefers sandy or muddy bottoms in shallow to moderately deep water. Its shell is heavy and robust, with a pear-shaped body whorl and a large, straight siphonal canal. The shell has large, knob-like protuberances and the color varies from white to tan. It is an active predator, predominantly feeding on bivalves.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Gastropods
Gastropoda
|
| Order |
Neogastropoda
Neogastropoda
|
| Family |
Whelks
Buccinidae
|
| Genus |
True whelks
Buccinum
|