Veined Rapa Whelk
NameVeined Rapa Whelk
Scientific NameRapana venosa
Common NameVeined Rapa Whelk
FamilyMuricidae
GenusRapana
Speciesvenosa
Geographic DistributionNative to the Western Pacific (Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, Bohai Sea). It is an invasive species in the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, North Sea, and along the Atlantic coast of North America (e.g., Chesapeake Bay).
Habitatsubtidal
Shell Shapeconical
Average Size (mm)60
Identifying FeaturesKey identifying features include its large size, the prominent orange to reddish-orange interior of the aperture, and the presence of blunt spines or nodules on the shoulder of the body whorl. The shell also exhibits strong spiral ribs and a dark, chitinous operculum.
Rarityrare
Author Citation(Valenciennes, 1846)
Description
The Veined Rapa Whelk is a large, predatory marine snail characterized by its globose to ovate-conical shell. The exterior is typically dull, often covered in periostracum or marine growth, giving it a grayish-brown to olive-green appearance. A striking feature is its wide, flaring aperture, which is a vibrant orange to reddish-orange on the interior. The shell often exhibits a shoulder adorned with blunt spines or nodules, and strong spiral ribs are usually visible. The specimen in the image shows a live animal with its dark, chitinous operculum partially visible.
