Scientific name: Buccinum undatum

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Gastropoda

Description: Waved whelks are commonly dull whitish to buff-toned but some times more colorful, and the color of soft parts are white with black flecks. Their shells are both axial and spiral ridges, and apertures open in a wide arc. The common size of waved whelks is about 62mm.

Distribution: young are common in tide pools and shallow water while adults are chiefly in sub-tidal waters, to 180m.

Locomotion: Foot with pedal retractor muscles that attached to shell and dorsal mantle, and are used to raise, lower or shorten the foot. Mucus aids in the gliding motion.

Food gathering: Waved whelks are carnivores, and they use the teeth of radula for rasping, tearing, and pulling on live prey. They also are scavenger on dead fish.

Gas exchange: Waved Whelk has true gills beneath the shell.

Reproduction: The sexes are separated. After internal fertilization, female lays egg cases through the foot. Larvae are free swimming trochophore and veliger.

Interesting facts: Masses of egg capsules, called “sea wash balls” can be found on beaches.

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OSC Research

Mercier Lab - Research on reproduction, larval development, ecology and growth is carried out on a wide variety of marine invertebrates.