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Nucella ostrina (Northern striped dogwinkle)
Copyright ©
2005 Mary Jo Adams
Nucella
ostrina is one of two common whelk species found on our
beaches. They are found at the middle intertidal level where it
is rocky and inhabited by mussels and barnacles, their preferred
prey. The adult animals are about an inch high with alternating
heavy and delicate spiral ribs. In Seashore Life of the Northern
Pacific Coast, Dr. Kozloff tells us, "Heavier ribs alternate
with more delicate ones". The ribs are often white with yellow,
orange, brown, or black coloration in the furrows between them.
If
you find what looks like a clump of yellow oats under a rock overhang,
they may be whelk eggs.
This species was formerly known as Nucella emarginata.
This page was created by Mary Jo Adams on 11/2/05.
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