Cominella maculosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cominella maculosa |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| (unranked): |
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda clade Neogastropoda |
| Superfamily: |
Muricoidea
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| Tribe: |
Cominellini
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| Genus: |
Cominella
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| Species: |
C. maculosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Cominella maculosa (Martyn, 1784)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Cominella maculosa, often called the spotted whelk, is a type of sea snail. It's a predatory (meat-eating) mollusc that lives in the ocean. This snail belongs to the Buccinidae family, which are known as the true whelks.
About the Spotted Whelk Shell
The shell of the spotted whelk usually measures between 30 mm and 45 mm long. That's about the length of a small candy bar!
Shell Appearance
The shell has a pretty bluish-gray color. It often has lines across it with black spots. These spots can look like oblong (oval-shaped) marks. On the upper parts of the shell, called the whorls, the spots are bigger and can look like flames.
Shell Structure
The top part of the shell, called the spire, is made up of seven whorls. These whorls are slightly rounded. They are connected by a neat, thin line called a suture.
The opening of the shell, known as the aperture, is shaped like a long oval. It feels smooth inside and has a yellowish-tan color. The edge of the opening, called the outer lip, is thin and sharp.
Where Spotted Whelks Live
This ocean snail is endemic to New Zealand. This means it is found naturally only in this specific area. You can find the spotted whelk around the North Island and the northern part of the South Island of New Zealand. They also live near the Chatham Islands.
