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whelk
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Northern whelk (Buccinum undatum) Illustrations of various invertebrate animals are shown, including a freshwater sponge, sea anemone, sea gooseberry, planarian, whelk, sea urchin, earthworm, centipede, fly, crab spider, and crawfish.
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Northern whelk (Buccinum undatum)
Northern whelk (Buccinum undatum)

whelk

marine snail
Also known as: Buccinidae
Written and fact-checked by
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History

whelk, any marine snail of the family Buccinidae (subclass Prosobranchia of the class Gastropoda), or a snail having a similar shell. Some are incorrectly called conchs. The sturdy shell of most buccinids is elongated and has a wide aperture in the first whorl. The animal feeds on other mollusks through its long proboscis; some also kill fishes and crustaceans caught in commercial traps. Whelks occur worldwide. Most are cold-water species, which tend to be larger and less colourful than those of the tropics. The common northern whelk (Buccinum undatum) has a stout pale shell about 8 cm (3 inches) long and is abundant in North Atlantic waters. For fulgur whelks, see conch; for rock whelks, see murex.