Left-handed Whelk 8-9" shell with stalked or branching bodies

with stalked or branching bodies and a large number of thin filaments

but may be found on rare occasions

Carnivorous sponges represent a novel innovation within phylum Porifera

the shell is believed to have the ability to chase away evil spirits

and is difficult to maintain

Left-handed Whelk 8-9" shell with stalked or branching bodiesThe Lightning Whelk, Sinistrofulgur sinistrum (Hollister, 1958), is one of the local molluscan celebrities, not only because of its large size, but also thanks to very special features that make this species truly remarkable. For instance, unlike most gastropods, which are right handed, the Lightning Whelk has a left handed shell (shell opening to the right with shell spire pointing up). Abnormally right handed Lightning Whelks are very uncommon, but