Busycon sinistrum (lightning whelk) 2 (24466804312)

Description:

Summary[edit] Description: Busycon sinistrum Hollister, 1958 - lightning whelk (public signage, Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, Sanibel Island, Florida, USA) This species is also known as Sinistrofulgur sinistrum, which has been considered by some to be conspecific with Busycon perversum. The gastropods (snails & slugs) are a group of molluscs that occupy marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments. Most gastropods have a calcareous external shell (the snails). Some lack a shell completely, or have reduced internal shells (the slugs & sea slugs & pteropods). Most members of the Gastropoda are marine. Most marine snails are herbivores (algae grazers) or predators/carnivores. The museum signage shown above depicts a lightning whelk slowly prying open a bivalve - apparently Mercenaria. Bivalves are the preferred prey for lightning whelks. Classification: Animalia, Mollusca, Gastropoda, Neogastropoda, Busyconidae More info. at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinistrofulgur_sinistrum. Date: 2 January 2016, 16:03. Source: Busycon sinistrum (lightning whelk) 2. Author: James St. John.