DescriptionBusycon sinistrum (lightning whelk) on marine beach (Cayo Costa Island, Florida, USA) (23700747493).jpg
Sinistrofulgur sinistrum Hollister, 1958 - lightning whelk shell in Florida, USA (January 2016).
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 snail shell shown above is a lightning whelk, Busycon sinistrum. This is a rare example of snail species that has a left-handed coiled shell. Almost all snail shells have right-handed coiling (dextral coiling). Busycon sinistrum has left-handed coiling (sinistral coiling). The common name "lightning whelk" is in reference to the slightly zig-zag shape of the dark-colored lines running ~apically along the shell's surface.
Locality: marine beach at the southern tip of Cayo Costa Island, Gulf of Mexico coast of southwestern Florida, USA (vicinity of 26° 36' 48.74" North latitude, 82° 13' 19.91" West longitude)
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DescriptionBusycon sinistrum (lightning whelk) on marine beach (Cayo Costa Island, Florida, USA) (23700747493).jpg
Sinistrofulgur sinistrum Hollister, 1958 - lightning whelk shell in Florida, USA (January 2016).
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 snail shell shown above is a lightning whelk, Busycon sinistrum. This is a rare example of snail species that has a left-handed coiled shell. Almost all snail shells have right-handed coiling (dextral coiling). Busycon sinistrum has left-handed coiling (sinistral coiling). The common name "lightning whelk" is in reference to the slightly zig-zag shape of the dark-colored lines running ~apically along the shell's surface.
Locality: marine beach at the southern tip of Cayo Costa Island, Gulf of Mexico coast of southwestern Florida, USA (vicinity of 26° 36' 48.74" North latitude, 82° 13' 19.91" West longitude)
to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work
to remix – to adapt the work
Under the following conditions:
attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0CC BY 2.0 Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 truetrue