>All the species of Busycotypus/Busycon are known as whelks, with various
>names like lightning whelk, knobbed whelk, channeled whelk, pear whelk, etc.
>The larger forms of Buccinidae, like Buccinum, Neptunea, Volutopsius,
>Ancistrolepis, etc. are also known as whelks.  And so are many of the
>smaller buccinids like Babylonia,

Babylonia has recently been moved into Babyloniidae, related to
Volutidae and Olividae. Anatomy & radula are apparently distinctly
nonbuccinid.

>Phos, Cominella, Siphonaria,

Er... Siphonalia.

>etc.  Species
>of Nucella are commonly known as either dog winkles or dog whelks, and in
>some places Nassarius are known as dog whelks.  I recall seeing a postage
>stamp (can't remember what country it was from) labeled "corded whelk", and
>showing what appears to be Cymatium lotorium.  I also recall seeing
>Cabestana spengleri referred to as "Spengler's Whelk".  Rapana venosa, which
>has been accidentally intrroduced to the eastern United States, is referred
>to, at least by the Fish and Wildlife Service, as "Rapa Whelk".  Species of
>Turbinella are called "whelks" in come locales.  And I have seen small
>knobbed species of Morula referred to as "mulberry whelks".  I believe
>Cittarium pica is called "whelk" in some Caribbean locations, where it is
>used as food.

Strictly speaking a whelk is any member of the Buccinidae. This, I
guess, now can be expanded to include Fasciolariinae, Melongeninae
and Nassariinae.

>I believe Syrinx aruanus is known as the "giant whelk" in Australia.

Syrinx has been transferred to Turbinellidae.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
64 (3) 473-8863
<[log in to unmask]>
Fossil preparator
Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut
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I want your sinistral gastropods!
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