Left-handed Whelk 8-9" triumph The bases of these fronds

The bases of these fronds may be dead while the upper parts are still alive supported by the skeletal tissue below

These shells belong to the gastropod family of shells (animal/mollusk) living inside the shell creates a single shell

a remarkable feat of natural engineering

and instead feed by passively capturing prey items such as larvae or small crustaceans

They also scavenge the bottom of the ocean for tasty tidbits

Left-handed Whelk 8-9" triumph The bases of these frondsThe Lightning Whelk, Sinistrofulgur sinistrum (Hollister, 1958), is one of the local molluscan celebrities, not only because of its large size, but also thanks to very special features that make this species truly remarkable. For instance, unlike most gastropods, which are right handed, the Lightning Whelk has a left handed shell (shell opening to the right with shell spire pointing up). Abnormally right handed Lightning Whelks are very uncommon, but