Common Whelk

The common whelk is a robust, spiral-shelled gastropod found in rocky and sandy habitats across the North Atlantic, typically at depths between 6 and 60 metres. Its shell is cream to brown, with prominent spiral ridges and a sturdy build that distinguishes it from smaller periwinkles. Whelks are slow-moving predators and scavengers, using their radula to bore into bivalve shells or feed on dead organisms. They are also important food for humans and marine predators alike.