Lightning Whelk

Posted by Steven (Chicagoland, United States) on 21 April 2009 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

View from above of the Busycon perversum, or Lightning Whelk, as it is more commonly known.

Lightning whelks reach a length of 2.5 to 16 inches. Their distinguishing characteristics include their off-white to tan or gray shell with narrow, brown "lightning" streaks from the top of the shell to the bottom. The shell is white on the inside. The animal inside the shell is dark brown to black. Lightning whelks are unusual in that they have a counterclockwise shell spiral (lightning whelks are usually called "left handed").

Photo taken on March 14, 2009.

Chicago Photobloggers

vfxy Photoblogs