Busyconis agenusof very large ediblesea snailsin thesubfamilyBusyconinae.These snails are commonly known in theUnited StatesaswhelksorBusycon whelks.Less commonly they are loosely, and somewhat misleadingly, called "conchs".[1]
| Busycon | |
|---|---|
| |
| A fossil shell ofBusycon contrarium | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Superfamily: | Buccinoidea |
| Family: | Busyconidae |
| Subfamily: | Busyconinae |
| Genus: | Busycon Röding,1798 |
| Type species | |
| Busycon muricatum Röding, 1798
| |
| Species | |
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See text | |
| Synonyms | |
|
FulgurMontfort, 1810 | |
Busyconcomes from theGreekbousykonmeaninglarge fig,frombousmeaningcowandsykonmeaningfig.[2]
Shell description
editShells of species in this genus can grow to a length of 40 cm.
The shell is pyriform. Thebody whorlis large, nodulous or spinose. Thespireis very short. Theapertureis large and subtriangular. Thesiphonal canalis open, elongated, entire at the fore part. The innerlipis concave, with a single fold anteriorly. The outer lip is internally striated.[3]
The shells are generally a solidcream,light grey ortanin color, however the shell of thelightning whelkis marked with brown and white streaks.
The shell of individuals can sometimes vary quite widely in coloration andsculpture.
Behavior
editBusycon whelks arescavengersandcarnivores,equipped with aproboscistipped with a file-likeradulaused to bore holes through the shells ofbarnacles,clams,crabs,andlobsters.They have a large, muscular foot with which they hold their victims. Smallsharks,gulls,crabs,and other gastropods are known to feed upon them.
Theknobbed whelk,Busycon carica,is the second-largest species, growing up to 30 cm long. They havetubercles(spines) along the shoulder. They open clams with their muscular foot and insert their long proboscis to digest the flesh. The knobbed whelk is a common predator of theforeshoremudflatsas far offshore as 50 m.
Eggs
editStrings of Busycon whelkegg capsulescommonly wash ashore and desiccate, becoming brittle. These objects are sometimes calledmermaid's necklacesbecause they resemble a large necklace strung with medallion-shaped egg pouches. Each pouch of the string contains numerousprotoconchs(baby whelks), similar in appearance to adults but with fewer whorls and less sculpture.
Human use
editWhen used for cooking in the United States, busycon whelks are sometimes calledscungilli,anItalian-Americanadaptation of theNeapolitansconcigliowhich means the meat of a (usually edible) sea snail.
Species
editThe genusBusyconcontains the following species:[4]
- Busycon carica(Gmelin, 1791) -Knobbed whelk
- Busycon contrarium(Conrad, 1840) †
- Species brought into synonymy
- Busycon (Sinistrofulgur) aspinosumHollister, 1958: synonym ofSinistrofulgur sinistrum(Hollister, 1958)
- Busycon (Sinistrofulgur) perversum(Linnaeus,1758): synonym ofSinistrofulgur perversum(Linnaeus,1758)
- Busycon (Sinistrofulgur) sinistrumHollister, 1958: synonym ofSinistrofulgur sinistrum(Hollister, 1958)
- Busycon amoenumConrad, 1875: synonym ofBrachysycon amoenum(Conrad, 1875) †
- Busycon blakeiConrad, 1855 †: synonym ofPseudoperissolax blakei(Conrad, 1855) †
- Busycon candelabrumLamarck,1816 -Splendid whelk:synonym ofLindafulgur candelabrum(Lamarck, 1816)
- Busycon coarctatum(Sowerby I, 1825): synonym ofBusycoarctum coarctatum(G.B. Sowerby I, 1825)
- Busycon laeostomumKent, 1982 -Snow whelk:synonym ofSinistrofulgur laeostomum(Kent, 1982)
- Busycon lindajoyceaePetuch, 1991 †: synonym ofLindafulgur lindajoyceae(Petuch, 1991) †
- Busycon lyonsiPetuch, 1987: synonym ofLindafulgur lyonsi(Petuch, 1987)
- Busycon muricatumRöding, 1798: synonym ofBusycon carica(Gmelin, 1791)
- Busycon perversum-Lightning whelk:synonym ofSinistrofulgur perversum(Linnaeus,1758)
- Busycon plagosumConrad, 1862: synonym ofFulguropsis plagosa(Conrad, 1863)
- Busycon pulleyi-Prickly whelk:synonym ofSinistrofulgur pulleyi(Hollister, 1958)
- Busycon sinistrumHollister, 1958: synonym ofSinistrofulgur sinistrum(Hollister, 1958)
The following species have been moved fromBusyconto the genusBusycotypus
- Busycotypus canaliculatus(Linnaeus,1758)Channeled whelk.Busycotypus canaliculatus,is slightly smaller than the knobbed whelk, and has a smooth shell with a deep square channel which is continuous on all the whorls, just below thesutureof the shell.
References
edit
- ^Bouchet, P. (2015). Busycon Röding, 1798. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species athttp://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=160183on 2015-12-03
- ^"busycon".Merriam-WebsterUnabridged.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-10.Retrieved2009-07-21.
- ^Adams, H. & Adams, A. (1853-1858). The genera of Recent Mollusca; arranged according to their organization. London, van Voorst. Vol. 1: xl + 484 pp.; vol. 2: 661 pp.; vol. 3: 138 pls
- ^list of Busycon species at malacolog.org