Whelk, Waved Whelk

Buccinum undatum Linnaeus

Appears in

North Atlantic Seafood

By Alan Davidson

Published 1980

About

Family Buccinidae

Portuguese: Búzio
Spanish: Bocina
French: Buccin
Dutch: Wulk
German: Wellhornschnecke
Swedish: Valthornssnàcka
Norwegian: Kongesnegl
Danish: Konksnegl
Icelandic: Beitukóngur
Other: Buckie (Scottish); Gwalc (Welsh); Pilot canteux (Boulogne)

REMARKS This, the principal species of whelk, reaches a length of 10 or even 15 cm. The colour of the shell is variable and it may or may not bear spiral bands or blotches.

A whelk is equipped with very strong lips, with which it applies a kiss of death to other molluscs, using them and its spiny tongue to bore through shells and extract the contents. It exhibits this ruthless behaviour on both sides of the North Atlantic. It also eats carrion.

Part of

Catalogue of Molluscs and Other Edible Sea Creatures

Single Shells