Species profile
Channeled Whelk
Busycotypus canaliculatus
At a glance
Channeled Whelk (Busycotypus canaliculatus) is a marine snail regulated in 7 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
The strictest bag limit is 1 (Georgia); the most generous is 75 (Federal Waters (DFO)).
Across 3 jurisdictions with stated minimum sizes, the average minimum is 4.6 in.
Confirmed by 2,619 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Named for the deep channels running along the sutures between its coiling shell whorls.
- It is the official state shell of Massachusetts.
- Sold as 'scungilli' in Italian-American seafood dishes, especially throughout New England.
- Predates on clams by wedging its shell lip into the valve gap and prying them apart.
- Can grow up to 8 inches (20 cm) and lays long spiral strings of disc-shaped egg capsules.
Where Channeled Whelk are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Channeled Whelk
Background
The channeled whelk, Busycotypus canaliculatus, previously known as Busycon canaliculatum, is a very large predatory sea snail, a marine prosobranch gastropod, a busycon whelk, belonging to the family Busyconidae.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Channeled Whelk article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other marine snails (whelk/conch) on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.