Buccinidae
Buccinidae is a family of medium-sized to large predatory sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Buccinoidea. They are commonly known as whelks. These snails are characterized by a generally stout, fusiform (spindle-shaped) shell with a long siphonal canal. They are found in a wide range of marine environments, from shallow coastal waters to deep-sea trenches, and are distributed worldwide.
Characteristics
Buccinidae snails possess a number of distinguishing features:
- Shell: The shell is typically thick and robust, with a long, pointed spire and a well-developed siphonal canal. The aperture (opening) is usually oval-shaped and often has a distinct lip.
- Operculum: Most buccinids have a corneous (horny) operculum, a plate-like structure that closes the aperture when the snail retracts into its shell.
- Radula: These snails possess a radula, a ribbon-like structure in their mouth bearing rows of chitinous teeth used for scraping and tearing food.
- Diet: Buccinids are carnivorous, primarily feeding on other mollusks, worms, and crustaceans.
Environments
Buccinidae snails inhabit a wide range of marine habitats, including:
- Intertidal zones: Some species can tolerate exposure to air during low tide.
- Subtidal zones: Many buccinids live on the seabed in shallower waters.
- Deep-sea environments: Several species thrive in the deep sea, often on the continental slope and abyssal plain.
References
For further information, please refer to the following websites: