Buccinum undatum

Researched By	Lizzie Tyler	Data Supplied By	University of Sheffield
Refereed by	This information is not refereed.
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Buccinum undatum	Common name	Common whelk
MCS Code	W708	Recent Synonyms
Phylum	Mollusca	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Gastropoda
Subclass	Prosobranchia	Order	Neogastropoda
Suborder		Family	Buccinidae
Genus	Buccinum	Species	undatum
Subspecies
Additional Information
Taxonomy References	Hayward et al., 1996, Fish & Fish, 1996, Howson & Picton, 1997, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b
General Biology
Growth form	Turbinate	Feeding method	Predator, Scavenger
Mobility/Movement	Crawler, Burrower	Environmental position	Epifaunal, Epibenthic
Typical food types	Carrion as well as bivalves and certain polychaetes	Habit	Free living
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Robust	Size	Small-medium(3-10cm)
Height	Not researched	Growth Rate	Not researched
Adult dispersal potential	1km-10km	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Solitary
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information
Biology References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Seaward, 1982, Christensen, 1980, Graham, 1988, Philippart, 1998, Valentinsson et al., 1999, Hancock, 1963, Himmelman & Hamel, 1993, Darkin, 1912, Hancock, 1960, Ramsay & Kaiser, 1998, Neilsen, 1975, Taylor, 1978, Martel et al., 1986, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Found on most British and Irish coasts except the Isles of Scilly.
Global distribution	Found in north-west Europe from Poland, Norway and Iceland to the Azores and in the American north Atlantic off the coasts of Canada.
Biogeographic range	Cold temperate to temperate.	Depth range	0 - 1200 m
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information
Substratum preferences	Algae, Bedrock, Large to very large boulders, Small boulders, Muddy gravel, Coarse clean sand, Fine clean sand, Muddy sand	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Offshore seabed, Strait / sound, Sealoch, Ria / Voe, Estuary, Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Lower Eulittoral, Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral, Lower Infralittoral, Upper Circalittoral, Lower Circalittoral, Circalittoral Offshore, Bathybenthic (Bathyal)	Wave exposure	Field unresearched
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Field unresearched	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu), Variable (18-40 psu), Reduced (18-30 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
AMBI Group (Borja et al., 2000)	II
Distribution References	Hayward et al., 1996, Fish & Fish, 1996, Picton & Costello, 1998, Mackie et al., 1995, Bruce et al., 1963, Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Seaward, 1982, Christensen, 1980, Valentinsson et al., 1999, Hancock, 1963, Darkin, 1912, Hayward & Ryland, 1990, Julie Bremner, unpub data
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Gonochoristic, Permanent hermaphrodite	Developmental mechanism	Direct Development
Reproductive Season	October to May	Reproductive Location	As adult
Reproductive frequency	Annual protracted	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	11-20 years	Age at reproductive maturity	6-10 years
Generation time	Not researched	Fecundity	11500
Egg/propagule size	250 µm diameter	Fertilization type	Internal
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Not relevant Larval settlement period Not researched Duration of larval stage
Additional Information
Reproduction References	Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Seaward, 1982, Graham, 1988, Himmelman & Hamel, 1993, Darkin, 1912, Martel et al., 1986, Poloczanska & Ansell, 1999, Julie Bremner, unpub data