Table of Contents
Overview
Comprehensive Description
Busycon contrarium is a large gastropod in the family Melongidae. The shell of the lightening whelk is usually very recognizable because it spirals toward the left instead of the right like other gastropod shells. Juvenile shells have lightning bolt shaped stripes on the shell hence the common name lightning whelk. The interior of juvenile shells can be white, yellow or pale blue. Adults, on the other hand, are gray with a few vertical violet-brown streaks (Magalhaes 1948). The aperature of the adult shells can vary from white, pale yellow to orange or bright red.
- Boudreax ML, Stiner JL and LJ Walters. 2006. Biodiversity of sessile and motile macrofauna on intertidal oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Journal of Shellfish Research 25:1079-1089.
- ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Available online.
- Kent BW 1983. Natural history observations on the busyconine whelks Busycon contrarium (Conrad) and Busycon spiratum (Lamarck). Journal of Molluscan Studies 49:37-47.
- Magalhaes H 1948. An ecological study of snails of the genus Busycon at Beaufort, North Carolina. Ecological Monographs 18 (3): 379-409.
- Ruppert E and R Fox. 1988. Seashore Animals of the Southeast. University of South Carolina Press 429 pp.
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience Left Handed Whelk, Lighting Whelk (Busycon contrarium). Available online.
- ZipCodeZoo.com Busycon contrarium. Available online.
© Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
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Distribution
Busycon contrarium occurs along the North American coastline from New Jersey to Texas. They are commonly encountered in estuaries, creeks and around oyster bars. The lightening whelk has been reported from the Indian River Lagoon (Boudreaux et al. 2006).
- Boudreax ML, Stiner JL and LJ Walters. 2006. Biodiversity of sessile and motile macrofauna on intertidal oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Journal of Shellfish Research 25:1079-1089.
- ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Available online.
- Kent BW 1983. Natural history observations on the busyconine whelks Busycon contrarium (Conrad) and Busycon spiratum (Lamarck). Journal of Molluscan Studies 49:37-47.
- Magalhaes H 1948. An ecological study of snails of the genus Busycon at Beaufort, North Carolina. Ecological Monographs 18 (3): 379-409.
- Ruppert E and R Fox. 1988. Seashore Animals of the Southeast. University of South Carolina Press 429 pp.
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience Left Handed Whelk, Lighting Whelk (Busycon contrarium). Available online.
- ZipCodeZoo.com Busycon contrarium. Available online.
© Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
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Physical Description
Size
Busycon contrarium grow up to 41 cm in length (Magalhaes 1948).
- Boudreax ML, Stiner JL and LJ Walters. 2006. Biodiversity of sessile and motile macrofauna on intertidal oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Journal of Shellfish Research 25:1079-1089.
- ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Available online.
- Kent BW 1983. Natural history observations on the busyconine whelks Busycon contrarium (Conrad) and Busycon spiratum (Lamarck). Journal of Molluscan Studies 49:37-47.
- Magalhaes H 1948. An ecological study of snails of the genus Busycon at Beaufort, North Carolina. Ecological Monographs 18 (3): 379-409.
- Ruppert E and R Fox. 1988. Seashore Animals of the Southeast. University of South Carolina Press 429 pp.
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience Left Handed Whelk, Lighting Whelk (Busycon contrarium). Available online.
- ZipCodeZoo.com Busycon contrarium. Available online.
© Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
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Ecology
Habitat
Depth range based on 2 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 1 sample.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 4 - 18
Temperature range (°C): 24.196 - 24.196
Nitrate (umol/L): 1.601 - 1.601
Salinity (PPS): 35.766 - 35.766
Oxygen (ml/l): 4.877 - 4.877
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.175 - 0.175
Silicate (umol/l): 2.607 - 2.607
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 4 - 18
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 1 sample.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 4 - 18
Temperature range (°C): 24.196 - 24.196
Nitrate (umol/L): 1.601 - 1.601
Salinity (PPS): 35.766 - 35.766
Oxygen (ml/l): 4.877 - 4.877
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.175 - 0.175
Silicate (umol/l): 2.607 - 2.607
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 4 - 18
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Trophic Strategy
Lightning whelks are carnivorous and prey on bivalves such as clams, usually eating one a month. They force open the shells of the bivalve with their large foot and hold it open by the edge of their own shell. Once the bivalve is open, the whelk inserts its radula and proboscis inside the clam to scrape and eat the clam meat (Ruppert and Fox 1988). Members of this genus are considered a nuisance in regions of open water fisheries because they prey upon edible molluscs.
- Boudreax ML, Stiner JL and LJ Walters. 2006. Biodiversity of sessile and motile macrofauna on intertidal oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Journal of Shellfish Research 25:1079-1089.
- ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Available online.
- Kent BW 1983. Natural history observations on the busyconine whelks Busycon contrarium (Conrad) and Busycon spiratum (Lamarck). Journal of Molluscan Studies 49:37-47.
- Magalhaes H 1948. An ecological study of snails of the genus Busycon at Beaufort, North Carolina. Ecological Monographs 18 (3): 379-409.
- Ruppert E and R Fox. 1988. Seashore Animals of the Southeast. University of South Carolina Press 429 pp.
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience Left Handed Whelk, Lighting Whelk (Busycon contrarium). Available online.
- ZipCodeZoo.com Busycon contrarium. Available online.
© Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
Trusted
Associations
The dead shells of Busycons are host to several species of Crepidula and are also often inhabited by hermit crabs and serve as substrata for oyster spat (Magalhaes 1948).Fishery: Members in the genus Busycon are used for food and ornaments. The muscular feet of these snails are used in chowders and served as steaks (Magalhaes 1948).
- Boudreax ML, Stiner JL and LJ Walters. 2006. Biodiversity of sessile and motile macrofauna on intertidal oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Journal of Shellfish Research 25:1079-1089.
- ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Available online.
- Kent BW 1983. Natural history observations on the busyconine whelks Busycon contrarium (Conrad) and Busycon spiratum (Lamarck). Journal of Molluscan Studies 49:37-47.
- Magalhaes H 1948. An ecological study of snails of the genus Busycon at Beaufort, North Carolina. Ecological Monographs 18 (3): 379-409.
- Ruppert E and R Fox. 1988. Seashore Animals of the Southeast. University of South Carolina Press 429 pp.
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience Left Handed Whelk, Lighting Whelk (Busycon contrarium). Available online.
- ZipCodeZoo.com Busycon contrarium. Available online.
© Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
Trusted
Population Biology
The lightning whelk is less common than other members in the genus Busycon. In Beaufort, North Carolina, only one individual of B. contrarium was collected for every 33 individuals of its congener B. carica(Magalhaes 1948). Similar numbers are reported from other regions of the Atlantic coast of the United States. Migration: Busycon spp. migrate from deep to shallow waters in times of reproduction and low food supply (Magalhaes 1948).
- Boudreax ML, Stiner JL and LJ Walters. 2006. Biodiversity of sessile and motile macrofauna on intertidal oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Journal of Shellfish Research 25:1079-1089.
- ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Available online.
- Kent BW 1983. Natural history observations on the busyconine whelks Busycon contrarium (Conrad) and Busycon spiratum (Lamarck). Journal of Molluscan Studies 49:37-47.
- Magalhaes H 1948. An ecological study of snails of the genus Busycon at Beaufort, North Carolina. Ecological Monographs 18 (3): 379-409.
- Ruppert E and R Fox. 1988. Seashore Animals of the Southeast. University of South Carolina Press 429 pp.
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience Left Handed Whelk, Lighting Whelk (Busycon contrarium). Available online.
- ZipCodeZoo.com Busycon contrarium. Available online.
© Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
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Life History and Behavior
Reproduction
Busycon contrarium has separate sexes. Reproduction is internal and copulation occurs in late autumn to early winter. Females lay long strings of disc-shaped egg capsules that measure up to 86 cm in length and 3 cm wide in early spring (Kent 1983, Ruppert and Fox 1988). The string of eggs is anchored to the sand and the capsules break loose when the eggs hatch at the beginning of May.
- Boudreax ML, Stiner JL and LJ Walters. 2006. Biodiversity of sessile and motile macrofauna on intertidal oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Journal of Shellfish Research 25:1079-1089.
- ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Available online.
- Kent BW 1983. Natural history observations on the busyconine whelks Busycon contrarium (Conrad) and Busycon spiratum (Lamarck). Journal of Molluscan Studies 49:37-47.
- Magalhaes H 1948. An ecological study of snails of the genus Busycon at Beaufort, North Carolina. Ecological Monographs 18 (3): 379-409.
- Ruppert E and R Fox. 1988. Seashore Animals of the Southeast. University of South Carolina Press 429 pp.
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience Left Handed Whelk, Lighting Whelk (Busycon contrarium). Available online.
- ZipCodeZoo.com Busycon contrarium. Available online.
© Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
Trusted
Growth
Fertilized eggs of Busycon spp. develop slowly and hatch in approximately 3 to 13 months. They emerge as juveniles, measuring nearly 4 mm in length, that crawl along the bottom (Magalhaes1948).
- Boudreax ML, Stiner JL and LJ Walters. 2006. Biodiversity of sessile and motile macrofauna on intertidal oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Journal of Shellfish Research 25:1079-1089.
- ITIS Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Available online.
- Kent BW 1983. Natural history observations on the busyconine whelks Busycon contrarium (Conrad) and Busycon spiratum (Lamarck). Journal of Molluscan Studies 49:37-47.
- Magalhaes H 1948. An ecological study of snails of the genus Busycon at Beaufort, North Carolina. Ecological Monographs 18 (3): 379-409.
- Ruppert E and R Fox. 1988. Seashore Animals of the Southeast. University of South Carolina Press 429 pp.
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience Left Handed Whelk, Lighting Whelk (Busycon contrarium). Available online.
- ZipCodeZoo.com Busycon contrarium. Available online.
© Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
Trusted
Wikipedia
Lightning whelk
The lightning whelk, scientific name Busycon contrarium, is an edible species of very large predatory sea snail or whelk, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Buccinidae, the busycon whelks. This species has a left-handed or sinistral shell. It eats mostly bivalves.
There is some confusion about the correct scientific name for this species, which has been called Busycon sinistrum and Busycon contrarium, and has also been confused with Busycon perversum.
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Distribution
This species is native to southeastern North America, south to Florida and the Gulf states.
Habitat
Lightning whelks can be found in the sandy or muddy substrate of shallow embayments.
Life habits
This whelk species feed primarily on marine bivalves, ingesting their soft parts using its proboscis.
Busycon contrarium and B. carica
This species shares many characteristics with another species, the knobbed whelk Busycon carica, but there are some important differences:
- Lightning whelks are sinistral in coiling, whereas knobbed whelks are dextral
- Lightning whelks have a lower spire than the knobbed whelk
- The knobs of the lightning whelk are usually less well-developed than those of the knobbed whelk
- Lightning whelks are diurnal, while knobbed whelks are active both day and night
- Lightning whelks prefer to stay in deeper waters than the knobbed whelks when feeding on mud flats
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Human use
For thousands of years Native Americans used these animals as food, and used their shells for tools, ornaments, containers and to make jewelry, i.e. shell gorgets.[1] They may have believed the sinistral nature of the lightning whelk shell made it a sacred object.
The lightning whelk is the State Shell of Texas.
References
- ^ Starr F. 1897. A Shell Gorget from Mexico. Proceeding Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences, volume VI. 173-178.
 | This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. (July 2009) |
- Marquardt, W.M. 1992 Shell Artifacts from the Caloosahatchee Area. In Culture and Environment in the Domain of the Calusa, edited by W. H. Marquardt, pp. 191-228. Institute of Archaeology and Paleoenvironmental Studies, Monograph 1. University of Florida, Gainesville.
- Paine, Robert T. 1962 Ecological Diversification in Sympatric Gastropods of the Genus Busycon. Evolution 16(4):515-523.
- Pulley, T.E. 1959 Busycon perversum (Linné) and some related species. Rice Institute Pamphlet, 46:70-89.
- Wise, J.B., G. Harasewych, & R. Dillon. 2004. Population divergence in the sinistral Busycon whelks of North America, with special reference to the east Florida ecotone. Marine Biology, 145:1163-1179; SMSFP Contrib.538.
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