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If you've done some beachcombing along the Gulf Coast or southern Atlantic Coast of the United States, especially after a storm, chances are that you've picked up, admired, and perhaps taken home some lightning whelk shells. They make for an interesting find. The beauty of the shells aside, their left-handed (sinistral) whorl sets them apart from the right-handed (dextral) whorl of most other univalves. The lightning whelk is, as it were, a southpaw. It's a very intriguing southpaw, too.
The lightning whelk (Busycon contrarium) is a marine gastropod mollusk, which basically means that it is a sea-dwelling snail. In the United States, all members of the diversified Busycon genus of the Melongidae family (part of the Buccinidae superfamily) are commonly known as whelks or Busycon whelks.
This particular species acquired the name "lightning whelk" because the white shells of the juveniles have chestnut brown stripes with a zig-zag pattern reminiscent of lightning bolts. Mature lightning whelks can vary greatly in color, but the shells are characteristically grayish-white, tan, or creamy yellow with an opening that can vary from white or pale yellow to orange or even bright red. Shell collectors find these variations endlessly fascinating.
Lightning whelks are widely distributed in the United States. Generally, they are plentiful along the Gulf Coast and along the Atlantic Coast as far north as New Jersey (though uncommon north of South Carolina). They inhabit national park waters in such disparate locations as Assateague Island National Seashore, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Cape Lookout National Seashore, Cumberland Island National Seashore, Canaveral National Seashore, Biscayne National Park, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Gulf Islands National Seashore, and Padre Island National Seashore.
Water temperature is a critical control for lightning whelk distribution. The sweet spot is the 77-82 degrees Fahrenheit range. When the water temperature drops below about 68 degrees, activity rates plummet and growth ceases.
Lightning whelks grow to a length of 10-15 inches and are sometimes mistaken for conchs. They live in shallow water and prefer embayments having sandy or muddy bottoms. Prime habitat includes estuaries, creeks and oyster bars. That's where this carnivorous species finds its food, which includes some scavenged carrion, but consists mostly of marine bivalves. Busycon contrarium especially likes clams.
more at: http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...at-do-clam6058
The lightning whelk (Busycon contrarium) is a marine gastropod mollusk, which basically means that it is a sea-dwelling snail. In the United States, all members of the diversified Busycon genus of the Melongidae family (part of the Buccinidae superfamily) are commonly known as whelks or Busycon whelks.
This particular species acquired the name "lightning whelk" because the white shells of the juveniles have chestnut brown stripes with a zig-zag pattern reminiscent of lightning bolts. Mature lightning whelks can vary greatly in color, but the shells are characteristically grayish-white, tan, or creamy yellow with an opening that can vary from white or pale yellow to orange or even bright red. Shell collectors find these variations endlessly fascinating.
Lightning whelks are widely distributed in the United States. Generally, they are plentiful along the Gulf Coast and along the Atlantic Coast as far north as New Jersey (though uncommon north of South Carolina). They inhabit national park waters in such disparate locations as Assateague Island National Seashore, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Cape Lookout National Seashore, Cumberland Island National Seashore, Canaveral National Seashore, Biscayne National Park, Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Gulf Islands National Seashore, and Padre Island National Seashore.
Water temperature is a critical control for lightning whelk distribution. The sweet spot is the 77-82 degrees Fahrenheit range. When the water temperature drops below about 68 degrees, activity rates plummet and growth ceases.
Lightning whelks grow to a length of 10-15 inches and are sometimes mistaken for conchs. They live in shallow water and prefer embayments having sandy or muddy bottoms. Prime habitat includes estuaries, creeks and oyster bars. That's where this carnivorous species finds its food, which includes some scavenged carrion, but consists mostly of marine bivalves. Busycon contrarium especially likes clams.
more at: http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com...at-do-clam6058