Pear Whelk [Busycon spiratum]
Description
The Pear Whelk, found from North Carolina to Florida, grows up to 5 inches in length. It has a pear-shaped, smooth shell that is typically grey or white and often spotted with brown. It is a carnivorous species, preying on bivalves by drilling a hole into their shells and consuming the soft body inside.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Gastropods
Gastropoda
|
| Order |
Neogastropoda
Neogastropoda
|
| Family |
Whelks
Buccinidae
|
| Genus |
Knobbed whelks
Busycon
|