Marine gastropod tracks - mostly a mix of Topshells, Periwinkles, and Dogwhelks.
County Clare, Ireland.
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A cluster of mating Dog whelks (Nucella lapillus) and a mass of their eggs. These marine snails are predatory and feed on a variety of different shellfish, including Mussels and Limpets, that live in the intertidal zone. They drill a hole in the shell of their prey and, with the help of digestive enzymes, suck them out through it!!
County Clare, Ireland.
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A pair of Limpet shells in pic1 that have been predated on by Dog whelks (Nucella lapillus) like the one in pic2. Dog whelks are carnivorous marine snails that drill holes in the shells of other species then inject them with digestive enzymes and suck the resulting "soup" up with their proboscis. 🐌😋
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An upturned Common Limpet (Patella vulgata) shell and a Dog Whelk (Nucella lapillus) shell. Although both are marine snails, the limpet is a grazer (feeding on seaweeds) while the whelk is a predator. Dog whelks drill holes in their preys shells using a rasp like structure called a radula. You can see the hole in this limpet shell where a dog whelk got in!!
County Clare, Ireland.
Cormacscoast.com Walking tours
Dog whelks (Nucella lapillus) are hella cool. They DRUG their prey to paralyse it, before turning their insides to goo for a delicious soup. AWESOME! Their prey is barnacles and other molluscs.
#marinebiology #marinebiologyuk #northnorfolkcoast #northsea #sea #ocean #biology #rockpools #marinetaxonomy #wildlife #nature #intertidal #dogwhelk #rockpooling
Cormac's Coast
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