Feeding time! This Lightning Whelk (Sinistrofulgur sinistrum) is finishing feeding on a clam purchased live from a local grocery store. Lightning Whelks are predators of bivalves, but they usually keep their prey grasped in their foot and hidden from our view during feeding. This rare shot of the animal's extended proboscis (the long appendage that looks like an elaphant trunk, which has the mouth at the end) happend during one of our daily Tank Talks last week. Come see our live mollusks during

The Albino Lighting whelk is a rare shell on the islands. Lightning whelks reach a length 2.5 to 16 inches. Their characteristics include their off - white to tan or gray shell with narrow, brown " Lightning "streaks from the top of the shell to the bottom. When adult size they are solid white inside .. as you can see this one has a hint of purple .The animal that's inside the shell is a dark brown to black. This little guy has decided to go back into his home to protect himself. This Shell is a

So many little wearing shell shells. A whelk shell, particularly the "lightning whelk," holds significant spiritual meaning in many Native American cultures, often symbolizing the cycle of life and death due to its clockwise spiral, representing the movement from birth to darkness, with the left-sided opening signifying the unusual or "contrary" aspect of this cycle; these shells were often used in rituals and found in ancient burial sites, signifying their sacred importance. | Crustacean Planta

Today, learn more about the Lightning Whelks (𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘨𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮) you might find here in Southwest Florida! | Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium

The lightning whelk is the second largest gastropod found on the islands reaching up to 16" inch in size. Whelks have very large body whorls with distinct shoulders and a wide aperture tapering into their long siphon canal. They have dozen or more petite knobs on their body whorl which spirals to their left ... their spire is rearward. The left handed aperture separates them from most other marine snails . Right handed lighting whelks are rare. Color is cream to gray with the younger shells smal