Common name: Lightning Whelk

Scientific name: Busycon Perversum Pulleyi

Category: Univalve

Size: 100-200 mm.

Shape: Pyriform, Sinistral

Color: Pale fawn to light yellowish gray with long axial, wavy brown streaks, large adult shells lose their color.

Habitat: Lower intertidal and subtidal on the sand, offshore, bays and beaches in fine muddy sands, infaunal.

Range: From Brenton Sound, Louisiana, to Texas and Northern Mexico coast.

Occurrence: Common

Additional Information: The lightning whelk is the State Shell of Texas. The lightning whelk is a carnivore which preys on clams by prying open their shells. At times, these whelks can be found living on sand bars in inlet areas. This shell can be caught with crab lines when it feeds on bait.

Other sites to visit:

http://www.animatedgifs.simplenet.com/ -Background

www.crpc.rice.edu/CRPC/GT/jholzapf/Gulf/whelk2.html -Info. and Picture

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