Channeled whelk [Busycotypus canaliculatus]
Description
The Channeled whelk is a large, predatory sea snail found along the East Coast of North America. 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 color varies from pale gray 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
|