Busycon sinistrum (lightning whelk) on marine beach (Cayo Costa Island, Florida, USA) (23700747493)

Description:

Description: Sinistrofulgur sinistrum Hollister, 1958 - lightning whelk shell in Florida, USA (January 2016). The gastropods (snails & slugs) are a group of molluscs that occupy marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments. Most gastropods have a calcareous external shell (the snails). Some lack a shell completely, or have reduced internal shells (the slugs & sea slugs & pteropods). Most members of the Gastropoda are marine. Most marine snails are herbivores (algae grazers) or predators/carnivores. The snail shell shown above is a lightning whelk, Busycon sinistrum. This is a rare example of snail species that has a left-handed coiled shell. Almost all snail shells have right-handed coiling (dextral coiling). Busycon sinistrum has left-handed coiling (sinistral coiling). The common name "lightning whelk" is in reference to the slightly zig-zag shape of the dark-colored lines running ~apically along the shell's surface. Classification: Animalia, Mollusca, Gastropoda, Neogastropoda, Busyconidae Locality: marine beach at the southern tip of Cayo Costa Island, Gulf of Mexico coast of southwestern Florida, USA (vicinity of 26° 36' 48.74" North latitude, 82° 13' 19.91" West longitude). Date: 4 January 2016, 14:29. Source: Busycon sinistrum (lightning whelk) on marine beach (Cayo Costa Island, Florida, USA). Author: James St. John.