# Whelk

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{{short description|Common name that is applied to various kinds of sea snail}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2018}}
[[File:Whelks at a fish market in Japan.jpg|thumbnail|Several different species of large whelks in the family [Buccinidae](/source/Buccinidae), the true whelks, on sale at a [fish market](/source/fish_market) in [Japan](/source/Japan)]]
[[File:Whelk at the wreck of SAS Pietermaritzburg P7260797.JPG|thumb|A whelk at [Miller's Point](/source/Miller's_Point%2C_Western_Cape) near [Cape Town](/source/Cape_Town)]]

'''Whelks''' or '''welks''' are any of several carnivorous sea snail species<ref>{{Cite web |title=Whelk |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whelk |access-date=26 Feb 2023 |website=Merriam Webster Dictionary}}</ref> with a swirling, tapered shell. Many are eaten by humans, such as the [common whelk](/source/Buccinum_undatum) of the North Atlantic. Most whelks belong to the family [Buccinidae](/source/Buccinidae) and are known as "true whelks." Others, such as the [dog whelk](/source/dog_whelk), belong to several sea snail families that are not closely related.

True whelks (family [Buccinidae](/source/Buccinidae)) are carnivorous, and feed on annelids, crustaceans, mussels and other molluscs, drilling holes through shells to gain access to the soft tissues. Whelks use [chemoreceptors](/source/chemoreceptors) to locate their prey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.molluscs.at/gastropoda/index.html?/gastropoda/sea/common_whelk.html |title=Snails and Slugs (Gastropoda) |publisher=www.molluscs.at}}</ref>

Many have historically been used, or are still used, by humans and other animals as food. In a {{convert|100|g|oz|frac=2|abbr=off|adj=on}} reference serving of whelk, there are {{convert|137|kcal|kJ|order=flip|abbr=off}} of [food energy](/source/food_energy), 24&nbsp;g of protein, 0.34&nbsp;g of fat, and 8&nbsp;g of carbohydrates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://recipeofhealth.com/nutrition-calories/whelk-unspecified-3759rb |title=Nutrition and Calories in Whelk |publisher=recipeofhealth.com}}</ref>

[Dog whelk](/source/Dog_whelk), a predatory species, was used in antiquity to make a rich red dye that improves in color as it ages.<ref>{{cite book|title=Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England by Saint the Venerable Bede (Book 1, Chapter 1)|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/38326/38326-h/38326-h.html#toc13}}</ref>

==Usage==
The [common name](/source/common_name) "whelk" is also spelled ''welk'' or even ''wilk''.

The species, genera and families referred to by this common name vary a great deal from one geographic area to another.

===Asia===
thumb|200px|Skewered whelks from Japan
In Japan, {{nihongo||ツブ, 螺|tsubu}}<ref name="hosking2026"/> or {{nihongo||ツブ貝|tsubu-gai}}<ref name="lowry2005"/>{{efn|Where {{transl|ja|gai}} is an inflection of {{transl|ja|kai}} meaning clam or shell.}} is a general term for mid- or large-sized species of the Buccinidae family,{{efn|Japanese: {{transl|ja|ezobai-ka}}.}}<ref name="okutani&tagawa&horikawa1988"/> i.e., true whelks, including ''Buccinum'' spp.{{efn|Japanese: {{transl|ja|ezobai-zoku}}.}} and ''Neptunea '' spp.{{efn|Japanese: {{transl|ja|ezobora-zoku}}.}} (e.g. ''Neptunea arthritica''<ref name="hosking2026"/>).<ref name="bozukonnyaku2013"/> These are eaten braised or grilled and nowadays used in  ''sushi'',<ref name="bozukonnyaku2013"/> but ''tsubu-gai'' was formerly not typically used by sushi establishments.<ref name="nakazawa&shiiya2007"/>{{Refn|Note that Lowry (2005) describes ''tsubu-gai'' as an inferior version of the ''sazae'' (''[Turbo sazae](/source/Turbo_sazae)''), used the same way culinarily, and comments that the ''sazae'' was not used as "sushi tane in sushi until about 25 years ago".<ref name="lowry2005"/>}} One warning is that the ''Neptunea'' genus has a gland containing the toxin tetramine ([Tetramethylammonium](/source/Tetramethylammonium)).<ref name="bozukonnyaku2013"/>

In Korea, the ''{{Transliteration|ko|golbaengi}}'' ({{lang|ko|골뱅이}}) marketed as "whelk" refers specifically to the moon snail ''[Neverita didyma](/source/Neverita_didyma)'' often enjoyed as snack food,<ref name="park2025"/> e.g. in the dish called ''{{Transliteration|ko|[golbaengi-muchim](/source/golbaengi-muchim)}}'' ({{lang|ko|골뱅이무침}}),<ref name="hong&rodbard2016"/>{{efn|Or perhaps tather ''{{Transliteration|ko|golbaengi-muchim guksu}}'' ({{lang|ko|골뱅이무침국수}}, "moon snail seasoned, with noodles").<ref name="maangchi2019"/>}} a sort of mixed salad consisting of this whelk (moon snail) blended with chili sauce and cold noodles.<ref name="hong&rodbard2016"/><ref name="maangchi2019"/> It has been a very "quintessential" side dish with alcohol.<ref name="maangchi2019"/> This species is also known by the common name ''{{Transliteration|ko|keun-gu-seul-u-leong}}'' ({{lang|ko|큰구슬우렁}}).<ref name="mok-etal2007"/>

In Vietnam, they are served in a dish called ''[Bún ốc](/source/B%C3%BAn_%E1%BB%91c)'' - vermicelli with sea snails. 

===Australia, New Zealand===
In [Australia](/source/Australia) and [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand), species of the genus ''[Cabestana](/source/Cabestana)'' (family [Ranellidae](/source/Ranellidae)) are called ''predatory whelks'', and species of ''[Penion](/source/Penion)'' (family [Buccinidae](/source/Buccinidae)) are called ''siphon whelks''.

===Brazil===
In [Brazil](/source/Brazil), there is a very popular [Afro-Brazilian](/source/Afro-Brazilians) divination game practiced by older women of African ancestry called ''jogo de búzios'' (game of whelks), which uses empty shells of these [gastropods](/source/gastropoda).

=== United Kingdom and Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands===
In the [British Isles](/source/British_Isles), [Belgium](/source/Belgium) and the [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands) (''wulk''/''wullok''), the word is used for a number of species in the family [Buccinidae](/source/Buccinidae), especially ''[Buccinum undatum](/source/Buccinum_undatum)'', an edible [Europe](/source/Europe)an and [Northern Atlantic](/source/Northern_Atlantic) species.

In the British Isles, the common name "dog whelk" is used for ''[Nucella lapillus](/source/Nucella_lapillus)'' (family Muricidae) and for ''[Nassarius](/source/Nassarius)'' species (family [Nassariidae](/source/Nassariidae)). Historically, they were a popular street food in Victorian London, sold from stalls typically located close to public houses and theatres.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Werner, Alex.|title=Dickens's Victorian London : 1839-1901|date=2011|publisher=Museum of London|others=Williams, Tony., Museum of London.|isbn=978-0-09-194373-8|location=London|pages=103|oclc=754167835}}</ref>

====Scotland====
In [Scotland](/source/Scotland), the word "whelk" is also used to mean the [periwinkle](/source/Common_periwinkle) (''Littorina littorea''), family [Littorinidae](/source/Littorinidae).<ref>Multilingual Dictionary of Fish and Fish Products, prepared by the [OECD](/source/OECD), Paris, second edition, 1978</ref>

===United States===
In the [United States](/source/United_States), ''whelk'' refers to several large edible species in the genera ''[Busycon](/source/Busycon)'' and ''[Busycotypus](/source/Busycotypus)'', which are now classified in the family [Buccinidae](/source/Buccinidae). These are sometimes called ''[Busycon](/source/Busycon) whelks''.

In addition, the unrelated [invasive](/source/invasive_species) species ''[Rapana venosa](/source/Rapana_venosa)'' is referred to as the ''Veined rapa whelk'' or ''Asian rapa whelk'' despite it being a [murex](/source/murex) in the family [Muricidae](/source/Muricidae).

===West Indies===
In the English-speaking islands of the [West Indies](/source/West_Indies), the word ''whelks'' or ''wilks'' (this word is both singular and plural) is applied to a large edible [top shell](/source/top_shell), ''[Cittarium pica](/source/Cittarium_pica)'', also known as the ''magpie'' or ''[West Indian](/source/West_Indian) top shell'', family [Trochidae](/source/Trochidae).

==Some common examples==
* [Channeled whelk](/source/Busycotypus_canaliculatus)
* [Common whelk](/source/Buccinum_undatum)
* [Knobbed whelk](/source/Knobbed_whelk), the [state shell](/source/List_of_U.S._state_shells) of [Georgia](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state)) and [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey)
* [Lightning whelk](/source/Lightning_whelk)
* [Red whelk](/source/Neptunea_antiqua)
* [Speckled whelk](/source/Cominella_adspersa)
* "Wrinkled whelk", "inflated whelk", and "lyre whelk", common names for ''[Neptunea lyrata](/source/Neptunea_lyrata)''
* [Wrinkled purple whelk](/source/Nucella_lamellosa)

==See also==
* [Conch](/source/Conch), another common name used for a wide variety of large sea snails or their shells
* {{linktext|scungilli}}

==Explanatory notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|28em|refs=
<ref name="hosking2026">{{cite book|last=Hosking |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Hosking |title=The Illustrated Dictionary of Japanese Food: Ingredients, Preparations and Culture |location= |publisher=[Tuttle Publishing](/source/Tuttle_Publishing) |date=2026|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Illustrated_Dictionary_of_Japanese_F/rfXFEQAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA163 |page=163 |isbn=<!--4805320001-->978-4805320006}}</ref>

<ref name="bozukonnyaku2013">{{cite book|last=Fujiwara |first=Masataka |author-mask=Bōzu konnyaku pseud. Fujiwara, Masataka<!--藤原昌高--> |title=Sushi zukan  |script-title=ja:すし図鑑 |location= |publisher=[:ja:マイナビ出版｜MyNavi Publishing](/source/%3Aja%3A%E3%83%9E%E3%82%A4%E3%83%8A%E3%83%93%E5%87%BA%E7%89%88%EF%BD%9CMyNavi_Publishing) |date=2013 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/{{urlencode:すし図鑑}}/ne5qAAAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA181 |page=181 |isbn=9784839943387<!--4839943389-->}}</ref>

<ref name="hong&rodbard2016">{{cite book|last1=Hong |first1=Deuki  |author1-link=<!--Deuki Hong-->|last2=Rodbard |first2=Matt |author2-link=<!--Matt Rodbard--> |chapter=Golbaengi muchi |script-chapter=ko:골뱅이무침 |trans-chapter=Spicy whelk salad |title=Koreatown: A Cookbook |location= |publisher=[Clarkson Potter](/source/Clarkson_Potter_(publisher))/[Ten Speed](/source/Ten_Speed_Press) |date=2016 |chapter-url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Koreatown/MAxsCQAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA269 |page=269|isbn=9780804186148<!--0804186146-->}}</ref>

<ref name="maangchi2019">{{cite book|author=Maangchi |author-link=Maangchi |others=With [Martha Rose Shulman](/source/Martha_Rose_Shulman) |chapter=Golbaengi-muchim-guksu
|script-chapter=ko:골뱅이무침국수 |trans-chapter=Spicy whelk with noodles |title=Maangchi's Big Book of Korean Cooking |location= |publisher=[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt](/source/Houghton_Mifflin_Harcourt) |date=2019 |chapter-url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Maangchi_s_Big_Book_of_Korean_Cooking/pSO1DwAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA440 |page=440 |isbn=9781328988126<!--1328988120-->}}</ref>

<ref name="mok-etal2007">{{Cite journal|last1=Mok |first1=J. |author1-link=<!--J. Mok-->|last2=Lee |first2=Doo-Seog |author2-link=<!--Doo-Seog Lee--> |last3=Yoon |first3=Ho‐Dong |author3-link=<!--Ho‐Dong Yoon--> |last4=Park |first4=Hee-Yeon |author4-link=<!--Hee-Yeon Park--> |last5=Kim |first5=Yeon-Kye |author5-link=<!--Yeon-Kye Kim--> |last6=Wi |first6=Chong-Hwan  |author6-link=<!-- Chong-Hwan Wi--> |title=Keunguseul-uleong hangug yeon-ansan susanmul-ui ilbanseongbun joseong mich yeong-yangpyeong-ga |script-title=ko:한국 연안산 수산물의 일반성분 조성 및 영양평가|trans-title=Proximate Composition and Nutritional Evaluation of Fisheries Products from the Korean Coast |journal=Korean Journal of Fisheries Society (J. Kor. Fish. Soc.) |script-journal= |volume=40 |issue=5 |date=2007 |url=https://fsis.go.kr/download/downloadFile.do?cnts_id=2430&file_id=427 |pages=260 and 264/Table 2<!--259–268--> |publisher=<!--国立科学博物館 --> |doi=10.5657/kfas}}</ref>

<ref name="lowry2005">{{cite book|last=Lowry |first=Dave |author-link=<!--Dave Lowry (food writer)--> |title=The Connoisseur's Guide to Sushi: Everything You Need to Know About Sushi Varieties And Accompaniments, Etiquette And Dining Tips And More |location= |publisher=[Harvard Common Press](/source/Harvard_Common_Press) |date=2005 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Connoisseur_s_Guide_to_Sushi/Yv9iDAAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&dq=tsubu+yaki+whelk&pg=PT166 |page=166 |isbn=<!--1558325859-->9781558325852}}</ref>

<ref name="nakazawa&shiiya2007">{{Cite journal|last1=Nakazawa |first1=Keiji |author1-link=<!--中澤 圭二-->|last2=Shiiya |first2=Yasuhiko |author2-link=<!--椎屋 安彦--> |last3=Isshi |first3=Haruo |author3-link=:ja:一志治夫 |title= |script-title=ja:「本物の寿司」が食えなくなる日(あがり)中澤圭二(すし匠)×椎屋安彦(鮨安吉) うまい寿司屋はどこにある |trans-title=Day when 'real sushi' becomes unavailable to eat. Keiji Nakazawa (Sushi Shō) vs. Yasushiko Shiiya (Sushi Yasukichi). Where are the good sushi bars? |journal=Gendai |script-journal= |volume=41 |issue=2 |date=February 2007 |url=https://books.google.com/books?newbks=0&id=syTmAAAAIAAJ&dq={{urlencode:ツブ貝}} |page=219<!--214–221--> |publisher=Kodansha |quote=いままであまり使っていないような、ツブ貝とか、アカニシ貝とかも可能性があると思います。 |lang=ja}}</ref>

<ref name="okutani&tagawa&horikawa1988">{{cite book|last1=Okutani|first1=Takashi |author1-link=<!--奧谷喬司--> |last2=Tagawa |first2=Masaru |author2-link=<!--田川勝--> |last3=Horikawa |first3=Hiroshi |author3-link=<!--堀川博史--> |title=Gastropods from continental shelf and slope around Japan : the intensive research of unexploited fishery resources on continental slopes |script-title=ja:日本陸棚周辺の貝類, 腹足鋼篇 |publisher=Japan Fisheries Resource Conservation Association |year=1988 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/{{urlencode:日本陸棚周辺の貝類_腹足鋼篇}}/7P0LAQAAIAAJ?gbpv=1&bsq={{urlencode:つぶ+エゾバイ科}} |page=14|isbn=9784000066914<!-- --> |quote=}}</ref>

<ref name="park2025">{{cite book|last=Park |first=Jae-young |author-link=<!--:ko:박재영--> |title=Kleul pabnida(yeongmunpan)  |script-title=ko:K를 팝니다(영문판) |trans-title=Presenting K! (English edition) |publisher=Nanda<!--난다--> |year=2025|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Presenting_K_K%EB%A5%BC_%ED%8C%9D%EB%8B%88%EB%8B%A4_%EC%98%81%EB%AC%B8%ED%8C%90/-29zEQAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&dq=Golbaengi&pg=PT204 |page=204 |isbn=9791194171485 |quote=}}</ref>

}}
* [http://www.arches.uga.edu/~amylyne/GSC/whelk.html The Georgia Shell Club webpage entry for whelk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206233514/http://www.arches.uga.edu/~amylyne/GSC/whelk.html |date=2005-02-06 }}, ''[Busycon](/source/Busycon)'' species

==External links==
{{wiktionary}}
{{NIE Poster}}
*[http://www.healthaliciousness.com/nutritionfacts/nutrition-comparison.php?o=15177&t=15178&h=&s=100&e=100&r= Nutrition facts for "whelk" (species not indicated) as a food source]
*[http://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1560 The Marine Life Information Network - The Common Whelk]

{{commercial molluscs}}
{{Edible molluscs}}

Category:Commercial molluscs
Category:Mollusc common names

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Whelk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whelk) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whelk?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.