It’s official. The Texas Lightning Whelk, (Busycon perversum pulleyi), is our 2022 re-certification pin. With a distinctively Texas distribution from Breton Sound, Louisiana to the coast of northern Mexico, the Texas Lightning Whelk was designated the State Shell of Texas in 1987. The lightning whelk is a carnivore and spends most of its life buried in the bottom sediments, preferably near seagrass beds, eating clams and anything else it can get. It is one of the largest shells found on Texas beaches and is easy to identify because of its opening on the left side, as observed by you when holding it up. Watch for shells and egg-cases on the beach and wear your pin with pride.
We live near the beach so will cherish every shell and egg-case we find. Wear your pin with pride and watch for shells on the beach.
Find more information in the 2/2022 Midden. or something like that. Read about all the previous pins here. Written by member Diane Humes.
