Black Sea Rapa Whelk [Rapana pontica]
Description
The Black Sea Rapa Whelk is a medium-sized sea snail that is native to the Black Sea, where it lives in soft substrates from the low intertidal to depths of 35 meters. The shell is spherical with a short spire, and is thick and heavy with a wide aperture. The color is variable, ranging from light brown to dark purple. This species is a predatory carnivore, feeding mainly on bivalves.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Mollusks
Mollusca
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Gastropods
Gastropoda
|
| Order |
Neogastropoda
Neogastropoda
|
| Family |
Murex snails
Muricidae
|
| Genus |
Rapana
Rapana
|