Common name : whelks

Aspect : robust, spiral shells with a pointed apex; feature a strong, sculptured exterior with ridges, spines, or nodules (some species have smoother surfaces); oval aperture often with a short and large siphonal aperture with a flared outer edge used as a crowbar to open bivalves; many species possess a thick, horny operculum; colors vary from white to brown, gray or reddish hues, often with patterned bands or streaks; average size between 40 and 100 mm

Feeding : carnivorous or scavenging (bivalves, polychaete worms, crustaceans or organic debris)

Environment : inhabit a wide variety of marine environments, from intertidal zones to deep waters, usually on continental shelves or slopes, and are commonly found in the northern hemisphere, particularly in the North Atlantic and North Pacific on soft substrates such as sand, mud, or gravel