| Dog Whelk | |
| Taken at Maidens on 4th August 2019 using Nikon D500 with Sigma 600 mm zoom lens. |
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| Dog Whelk |
| Species: Order: Family: Local names: |
Nucella lapillus. Neogastropoda. Muricidae. Atlantic dogwinkle. |
| Food: Habitat: Feature: |
It
has toothed chitinous structure to bore holes in
the shells of prey, complemented by
an organ on the foot which secretes a shell-softening
chemical. When a hole has been
formed paralysing chemicals
and digestive enzymes are secreted inside the shell
to break
the soft body down into a ‘soup’ which can be
sucked out
with the proboscis. Rocky shores, and estuarine conditions The dog-whelk can be used to produce red-purple and violet dyes |