Dog Whelk (also known as the Mulberry Whelk or Drill)
Phylum: Mollusca; Class: Gastropoda; Order: Neogastropoda; Family: Muricidae; Genus: Tenguella; Species: T. marginalba · Muricidae (Murex or Rock Snail family) · Gastropod; specifically a rock snail. This specimen is a beach-worn fragment/top portion of a spiral-shaped shell.
Species
Tenguella marginalba (formerly Morula marginalba)
Shell Type
Gastropod; specifically a rock snail. This specimen is a beach-worn fragment/top portion of a spiral-shaped shell.
Family
Muricidae (Murex or Rock Snail family)
Size
Approximately 12-18mm in length based on proximity to the carpet fibers. This is consistent with the smaller end of the species range, which typically reaches 25-30mm.
Color & Pattern
Shows creamy off-white base with distinct purplish-brown or dark grey spiral banding. The patterns appear somewhat sun-bleached and eroded. The classic 'mulberry' rows of nodules are smoothed down by wave action.
Rarity
Very Common; one of the most abundant predatory snails on the rocky shores of Eastern Australia.
Habitat
Intertidal zone, typically found clinging to rocks, in crevices, or among oyster beds in high-energy rocky shores and estuaries.
Geographic Range
Common along the eastern coast of Australia, from Queensland (including Brisbane/Sandgate) south to New South Wales.
Description
This is a thick, robust gastropod shell fragment. In a whole state, it features rows of dark nodules resembling a mulberry. This specimen shows the characteristic biconical shape and spiral sculpture of a Muricid, though the lower half (aperture and siphonal canal) is missing.
Key Features
Heavy, thick-walled shell construction; spiral arrangement of dark rectangular spots or bands; high-domed spire typical of the Tenguella genus.
Collector Value
Minimal. While the species is of interest to malacologists, this specific specimen is heavily damaged and worn, making its value purely sentimental or educational. Pristine specimens are common and inexpensive.
Condition Notes
Poor to Fair. The shell is a beach-worn fragment; the apex is eroded and the anterior end (aperture/lip) is entirely broken away. It is a 'beach find' rather than a 'live-taken' specimen.
Interesting Facts
These snails are active predators. They use a specialized tongue (radula) and an acid-secreting gland to drill perfectly round holes into the shells of oysters and mussels to consume them. They are a significant pest in commercial oyster farms.
Ecological Role
High-level intertidal predator. They help control the populations of bivalves and barnacles but can cause significant ecological shifts if their populations become too dense.
Similar Species
Morula granulata (which has more pronounced, rounded nodules) and Drupa species (which are generally found in more tropical reef environments).
Beach Finding Tips
Look in the 'wrack line' or near rocky outcrops at Brighton Beach during low tide. They are often found in the debris caught between rocks or amongst oyster shells.
Notes
Brighton beach Sandgate Brisbane