Whelk Shells of the Buccinidae Family
One Whelk Shell of the Buccinidae Family can be found in this website:
Ribbed Macron Shell, Macron aethiops. A representative of the Buccinidae Family of False Tritons and Whelk Shells.
Phylogeny: Whelks and False Triton Shells of the Buccinidae Family are gastropod mollusks in the order Neogastropoda. Neogastropods are characterized by having a long siphonal canal or a well developed siphonal notch, and a specialized radula. Many species in this order have a narrow aperture. Neogastropods are primarily marine snails and most of the well-known shell families are in this order. The Buccinidae Family is in the superfamily Buccinoidea, which is one of seven superfamilies in this order. Superfamily Buccinoidea consists of twenty families. The Buccinidae Family is very large, with nine subfamilies, forty-three genera, and around 1,050 species. There are currently many revisions being made in this family, with species regularly being moved in or out of the family. Shells in this family are also commonly called True Whelks or Buccinids.
Description: Buccinid Whelk Shells are solidly built and diverse in shape. Generally speaking, they are globose to fusiform (spindle-shaped). Most consist of few whorls, a large body whorl, and a short to moderately high spire. These shells are strongly spiraled, with each whorl readily identifiable. The sutures (where individual whorls join together) can be quite deep. The exterior surface may be smooth or sculpted with axial ribs and/or spiral cords. They may display knobs, but not varices or spines. These shells have large apertures, which taper to a short or long siphonal canal. Many species have a flared outer lip, which they use to pry open bivalves. The outer lip and columella are usually smooth but may have weak dentition. These shells have a thin, ovate, operculum. Most species have a prominent periostracum. The temperate and polar species tend to have subdued coloration. Tropical species are generally more colorful. They are small to large in size, with the largest species reaching around 26 cm (10.2 inches) in length.
Habitat and Distribution: Whelks and False Tritons are generally found on soft substrates, but may also be found on rubble and hard substrates. They live in the intertidal zone, and to depths exceeding 2,000 m (6,560 feet). They are found worldwide in tropical to polar seas. Most species in the family are found in cold waters. At least seven species from this family are found in Mexican waters.
Natural History: Buccinid Whelk Shells are predatory carnivores and scavengers. They prey on bivalves, crustaceans, and polychaetes. They also eat carrion. They locate food by use of chemoreceptors. They are prey for shorebirds, crabs, fish, and other mollusks. Buccinid shells are gonochoric and reproduce sexually, with internal fertilization. The eggs are laid in protective corneous capsules. These animals are edible and some are considered to be delicacies. Some species are the target of small scale commercial fisheries as well as shell collectors.