Whelk

Whelks—also spelled welks or wilks—are a group of carnivorous sea snails recognized by their swirling, tapered shells. Many species are eaten by people, including the common whelk found in the North Atlantic. Most true whelks belong to the family Buccinidae, but other snails called whelks, such as the dog whelk, come from several unrelated families.

True whelks (Buccinidae) are predators that feed on annelids, crustaceans, mussels, and other mollusks. They drill holes into shells to reach soft tissues and use chemoreceptors to find prey. Humans and other animals have long used whelks as food. A 100-gram serving provides 570 kilojoules (137 kilocalories), 24 grams of protein, 0.34 grams of fat, and 8 grams of carbohydrates. The dog whelk, a predatory species, was used in ancient times to produce a rich red dye that improves with age.

The common name varies by region. In Japan, *tsubu* or *tsubu-gai* refers to mid- to large-sized true whelks like *Buccinum* and *Neptunea* species (e.g., *Neptunea arthritica*). These are braised, grilled, or used in sushi, though they were not traditionally common in sushi shops. Note that *Neptunea* species have a gland containing the toxin tetramine. In Korea, *golbaengi* marketed as whelk specifically refers to the moon snail *Neverita didyma*, often eaten as a snack in *golbaengi-muchim*—a mixed salad with chili sauce and cold noodles—and considered a quintessential side dish with alcohol. This species is also called *keun-gu-seul-u-leong*.

In Australia and New Zealand, *Cabestana* species (family Ranellidae) are called predatory whelks, while *Penion* species (family Buccinidae) are called siphon whelks. In Brazil, an Afro-Brazilian divination game called *jogo de búzios* (game of whelks) uses empty shells of these gastropods, practiced by older women of African ancestry.

In the British Isles, Belgium, and the Netherlands (where it is called *wulk* or *wullok*), the term refers to several Buccinidae species, especially *Buccinum undatum*, an edible European and North Atlantic snail. In the British Isles, "dog whelk" is used for *Nucella lapillus* (family Muricidae) and *Nassarius* species (family Nassariidae). These were once popular street food in Victorian London, sold from stalls near pubs and theatres. In Scotland, "whelk" also means the periwinkle (*Littorina littorea*, family Littorinidae).

In the United States, whelk refers to several large edible species in the genera *Busycon* and *Busycotypus* (family Buccinidae), sometimes called Busycon whelks. The invasive *Rapana venosa* is called the veined rapa whelk or Asian rapa whelk, though it is a murex in the family Muricidae. In the English-speaking West Indies, the word whelks or wilks (both singular and plural) applies to the large edible top shell *Cittarium pica* (also known as the magpie or West Indian top shell, family Trochidae).

Common examples include the channeled whelk, common whelk, knobbed whelk (state shell of Georgia and New Jersey), lightning whelk, red whelk, speckled whelk, "wrinkled whelk," "inflated whelk," and "lyre whelk" (names for *Neptunea lyrata*), and the wrinkled purple whelk. Related terms include conch and scungilli.