DSC_7685 Red-mouthed whelk (Cominella virgata virgata) shell similar but taller than spotted whelk. On underside the columella is orange red and the operculum is horny and black. Found beneath rocks and stones on corallina, and Hormosera flats in tide pools in sheltered to exposed localities. Goat Island Marine Reserve, Leigh
DSC_3331 Red-mouthed whelk (Cominella virgata virgata) laying eggs. Shell is similar but taller than spotted whelk. On underside the columella is orange red and the operculum is horny and black. Found beneath rocks and stones on corallina, and Hormosera flats in tide pools in sheltered to exposed localities. Tokerau Beach, Karikari Peninsula *
DSC_3229 A selection of whelks (dorsal and ventral pairs from left to right, top to bottom); Spotted whelk (Cominella maculosa) from Island Bay top and centre left, Mud whelk (Cominella glandiformis) from Te Hapua top centre right, Quoy's whelk (Cominella quoyana) from Bland Bay far centre right, Red-mouthed whelk (Cominella virgata) from Seatoun centre and bottom left, Speckled whelk (Cominella adspersa) from Leigh centre and bottom right.
