Whelk

{{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, the true whelks, on sale at a fish market in Japan]] [[File:Whelk at the wreck of SAS Pietermaritzburg P7260797.JPG|thumb|A whelk at Miller's Point near 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 of the North Atlantic. Most whelks belong to the family Buccinidae and are known as "true whelks." Others, such as the dog whelk, belong to several sea snail families that are not closely related.

True whelks (family 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 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, 24 g of protein, 0.34 g of fat, and 8 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, 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 "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''), 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).<ref name="bozukonnyaku2013"/>

In Korea, the ''{{Transliteration|ko|golbaengi}}'' ({{lang|ko|골뱅이}}) marketed as "whelk" refers specifically to the moon snail ''Neverita didyma'' often enjoyed as snack food,<ref name="park2025"/> e.g. in the dish called ''{{Transliteration|ko|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'' - vermicelli with sea snails.

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

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

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

In the British Isles, the common name "dog whelk" is used for ''Nucella lapillus'' (family Muricidae) and for ''Nassarius'' species (family 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, the word "whelk" is also used to mean the periwinkle (''Littorina littorea''), family Littorinidae.<ref>Multilingual Dictionary of Fish and Fish Products, prepared by the OECD, Paris, second edition, 1978</ref>

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

In addition, the unrelated invasive species ''Rapana venosa'' is referred to as the ''Veined rapa whelk'' or ''Asian rapa whelk'' despite it being a murex in the family Muricidae.

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

==Some common examples== * Channeled whelk * Common whelk * Knobbed whelk, the state shell of Georgia and New Jersey * Lightning whelk * Red whelk * Speckled whelk * "Wrinkled whelk", "inflated whelk", and "lyre whelk", common names for ''Neptunea lyrata'' * Wrinkled purple whelk

==See also== * 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 |date=2026|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Illustrated_Dictionary_of_Japanese_F/rfXFEQAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA163 |page=163 |isbn=978-4805320006}}</ref>

<ref name="bozukonnyaku2013">{{cite book|last=Fujiwara |first=Masataka |author-mask=Bōzu konnyaku pseud. Fujiwara, Masataka |title=Sushi zukan |script-title=ja:すし図鑑 |location= |publisher=:ja:マイナビ出版｜MyNavi Publishing |date=2013 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/{{urlencode:すし図鑑}}/ne5qAAAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA181 |page=181 |isbn=9784839943387}}</ref>

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

<ref name="maangchi2019">{{cite book|author=Maangchi |author-link=Maangchi |others=With 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 |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}}</ref>

<ref name="mok-etal2007">{{Cite journal|last1=Mok |first1=J. |author1-link=|last2=Lee |first2=Doo-Seog |author2-link= |last3=Yoon |first3=Ho‐Dong |author3-link= |last4=Park |first4=Hee-Yeon |author4-link= |last5=Kim |first5=Yeon-Kye |author5-link= |last6=Wi |first6=Chong-Hwan |author6-link= |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 |publisher= |doi=10.5657/kfas}}</ref>

<ref name="lowry2005">{{cite book|last=Lowry |first=Dave |author-link= |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 |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=9781558325852}}</ref>

<ref name="nakazawa&shiiya2007">{{Cite journal|last1=Nakazawa |first1=Keiji |author1-link=|last2=Shiiya |first2=Yasuhiko |author2-link= |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 |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= |last2=Tagawa |first2=Masaru |author2-link= |last3=Horikawa |first3=Hiroshi |author3-link= |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= |title=Kleul pabnida(yeongmunpan) |script-title=ko:K를 팝니다(영문판) |trans-title=Presenting K! (English edition) |publisher=Nanda |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'' 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]

Category:Commercial molluscs Category:Mollusc common names