Neptunea antiqua explained

Neptunea antiqua, common name the red whelk, is a species of Northeast Atlantic sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Buccinidae, the true whelks.

Description

N. antiqua resembles Buccinum undatum (common whelk). It can grow to a length of 20cm (10inches),[1] although most specimens only reach half that size.[2] It is the largest marine snail in parts of its range.[1]

Distribution

N. antiqua is found in the Northeast Atlantic along cold-temperate European coasts, ranging from the low water mark[3] to a depth of 1200m (3,900feet).[2]

Feeding

N. antiqua is primarily a scavenger, although it has been recorded attacking and eating some living polychaete species.[3] Unlike several of its more predatory relatives, experiments have shown that even hungry N. antiqua are not attracted to living undamaged mussels.[3]

Food poisoning

N. antiqua contains tetramethylammonium salts (most likely the chloride) in its tissues, and has been the source of non-lethal human poisoning.[4]

Notes and References

  1. [Danish Forest and Nature Agency|Naturstyrelsen]
  2. MarLIN: Red whelk - Neptunea antiqua. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  3. Pearce and Thorson (1967). The feeding and reproductive biology of the red whelk, Neptunea antiqua (L.) (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia). Ophelia 4(2): 277–314.
  4. U. Anthoni, L. Bohlin, C. Larsen, P. Nielsen, N. H. Nielsen, and C. Christophersen (1989). "The toxin tetramine from the "edible" whelk Neptunea antiqua." Toxicon 27 717–723.