Distinguishing Characteristics |
Gastropod (1 shell); shell spiral in shape, right-handed (dextral); shell color whitish yellow with irregular wavy radial brown streaks, lighter colored band at base of body whorl; spiraling ridges on whorls; no projections on edges of body whorl, may or may not be small projections on edges of other whorls; deep groove between whorls; edges of body whorl gently rounded, not angular; aperture oblong, long, about 3/4 the length from body whorl to tip of siphon, inside white to light brown; spire short; siphonal canal long; snail body is pale orange. |
Similar Species |
The shouldered pear whelk has nodules on the edges of whorls (absent on the pear whelk), has an angular aperture opening (a shoulder), spiral is step-like with no grooves between the whorls and its aperture opening is slightly shorter than the pearwhelk's. |
Habitat |
Gulf, sandy bottoms |
Maximum Size |
15 cm (6 in) |
Other Common Names |
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Previous Scientific Names |
Busycon spiratum plagosum |
Comments |