Dog Whelk

Name: Dog Whelk

Scientific name: Nucella lapillus

Category: Marine

Nature Stars: 20

What are nature stars?

About: A pointed snail-like shell, up to 4cm long. Dog Whelks live around the lower shore, where ever there are barnacles or mussels, its favourite food.

How to identify: Whelks are more pointed than periwinkles. The Dog Whelk is smaller than the common whelk, smoother than the netted whelk and more rounded than the Oyster Drill.

Where: Found all round our coasts.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 80
• Agility: 10
• Rarity: 30
• Cute factor: 30
• Traveller: 30

Fantastic fact: Feeds on mussels and barnacles by boring through their shells with its sharp proboscis.

Photograph credit: Photo credit tbc