Malacology
Malacology is the study of mollusks. This includes animals like octopus, snails, slugs, and clams. It is the second largest phylum of animals, making them one of the most successful groups on the planet. There are over 80,000 described species of mollusks with many more left to be discovered. Mullusca is composed of 8 recognized classes including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Scaphapoda, Monoplacophorans, the Aplacophorans, Caudofoveata and Solenogastres, and Bivalvia.
Ten-ridged Whelk
(Say, 1826)
Neptunea decemcostata
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Neogastropoda
Family:
Buccinidae
Image Voucher:
ANSP 263033
Shell Information
Length (mm): 75-100
Dextral
Chirality:
The Ten-ridged Whelk has a relatively fat shell shape. It is named for the ten pronounced spiral ribs found on the body whorl. Typically three of these ribs will continue on the whorls of the spire. These shells are usually yellowish gray to white with a darker red color on the ridges.
Description:
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
Nova Scotia to Massachusets
4 to 1207 meters
Diet:
Carnivore
Habitat:
Marine; Moderately shallow water
Misc. Facts
It is the official state shell of Massachusetts.
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Neptunea decemcostata (Say, 1826). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=491164 on 2021-06-23
Morris, P. A. (1987). A field guide to shells: Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the West Indies (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.
Rosenberg, G. 2009. Malacolog 4.1.1: A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca. [WWW database (version 4.1.1)] URL http://www.malacolog.org/