Taxonomy herein follows the latest authoritative work (1998) Common and Scientific Names of Aquatic Invertebrates from the United States and Canada: Mollusks, 2nd edition, American Fisheries Society Special Publication 26 (Turgeon, D. D., J. F. Quinn, Jr., A. E. Bogan, E. V. Coan, F. G. Hochberg, W. G. Lyons, P. M. Mikkelsen, R. J. Neves, C. F. E. Roper, G. Rosenberg, B. Roth, A. Scheltema, F. G. Thompson, M. Vecchione, and J. D. Williams).

    Recently published* results of research conducted by Dr. Wise (Houston Museum of Natural Science), Dr. Dillon (College of Charleston), and Dr. Harasewych (National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution) suggests that all living sinistral whelks of the west Atlantic are conspecific [of the same species], Busycon perversum (Linnaeus, 1758) being the oldest available nomen.

*Wise, J., M. G. Harasewych, and R. T. Dillon, Jr., 2004.  Population divergence in the sinistral whelks of North America, with special reference to the east Florida ecotone.  Marine Biology 145(6): 1176-1179. Nov.

Guide To Northeast Florida Whelks

Busycotypus | Busycon Opercula