 the dog whelk, dogwhelk, or atlantic dogwinkle, scientific name nucella lapillus, is a species of predatory sea snail, a carnivorous marine gastropod mollusc in the family muricidae, the rock snails. nucella lapillus was originally described by linnaeus in 1758 as buccinum lapillus ( the basionym). ==distribution== this species is found around the coasts of europe and in the northern west atlantic coast of north america. it is also can be found in estuarine waters along the atlantic coasts. this species prefers rocky shores, where it eats mussels and acorn barnacles.  ==shell description== the dog whelk shell is small and rounded with a pointed spire and a short, straight [[s
Animals_described_in_1758 Muricidae