Family Melongenidae Busycon sinistrum Hollister, 1958 Lightning whelk - 38 cm Shell left-handed (or sinistral, coiling to left), heavy, with flattened spire. Shell shoulders with small knobs. Color tan, shells under 7" have axial brown streaks. Very common on mud flats, bay waters. May be conspecific with Busycon perversum (Linnaeus, 1758) from western Gulf of Mexico. Busycon contrarium (Conrad, 1840) is a fossil species from Carolinas. Live lightning whelk Egg capsules Right-handed specimen
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