Whelks
Whelk Anatomy
Whelks Family Buccinidae (True Whelks)
In the phylum mullusca (mollusks) there are four classes: bivalves and gastropods are numerous in Barnegat Bay.
Cephalopods (octopus and squid ) may occasionally drift in and Polyplacophora (chitons).
To find out more about snails and whelks that develop a shell with a single opening to do what bivalves do by opening their two shells.
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Anatomy: The soft body is divided into the head, the visceral mass, and the foot (which is small). The Knobbed Whelk has two pairs of tentacles on the head; it has a light-sensitive eyespot located on each of the larger tentacles. The smaller pair of tentacles is used for the sense of smell and the sense of touch.
Knobbed Whelk
Whelks is a common name for are large sea snails (gastropods) with spiral shells.
They are both are scavengers and carnivores and travel along (or just under) the bay bottom in search of clams and other shellfish.
Lightning Whelk
iottom mud.
Credits
Whelk diagram - Huntsman Marine Science Centre
