snail id needed please

[hollyclyff]

I went to the lfs today and asked for 6 cerith snails. When I got home I found this guy in the bag. This one looks nothing like the others. What is it? It has a hard spike on the underside of it's shell. You can see it in the side shot picture.







Thanks!

 

[olemiss reb]

Looks like a whelk to me but wait for others to chime in before getting rid of it.

 

[pagojoe]

It's a murex rather than a whelk, and I think it's Muricodrupa fiscella. They are predatory, but since they are so widespread, they are probably generalist feeders. Most likely prey will be other snails and maybe barnacles.

http://www.gastropods.com/5/Shell_4235.shtml
http://www.gastropods.com/7/Shell_10007.shtml

Cheers,



Don

 

[hollyclyff]

Thanks. I had a feeling he was something bad, but he didn't quite look like the whelk I got rid of last week. I'm glad I didn't put him in with the others last night.