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Netted dog whelk

Dawn Thomas

Netted dog whelk

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Scientific name: Tritia reticulata
A small, but feisty scavenger, this carnivorous sea snail does not let anything go to waste!

Top facts

Stats

Up to 3cm in height

Conservation status

Common

When to see

January to December

About

Netted dog-whelks often bury themselves in the sand but stick up their siphon to detect carrion much further away! Females lay very distinctive clear egg capsules with tiny yellow eggs inside, which can be seen on seagrass, seaweed or under rocks.

What to look for

This sea snail can look very similar to the often-overlooked Tritia nitida, another species of dog whelk. To help Identify these two species look at the opening of the shell- the aperture- as the colour of the shell above the opening can help with identification. If you are recording your sightings as part of a recording scheme, make sure to take clear photographs of the aperture to help verifiers confirm your sighting.

Where to find

Found on most coasts around Britain and Ireland

Did you know?

You will often find large numbers of netted dog whelks together feasting on dead crabs and other carrion!