Description:
The channeled whelk, Busycotypus canaliculatus (formerly known as Busycon canaliculatum) is a large snail that reaches 5 - 8 inches in length.  The shell is generally pear-shaped, with a large body whorl and a straight siphonal canal.  There is a wide, deep channel at the sutures between whorls.  There are often weak knobs at the shoulders of the whorls.  Finely sculpted lines begin at the siphonal canal and revolve around the shell surface.  Body color is typically a buff gray to light tan, with darker brown to brown-red vertical banding.  The shell aperture is located on the right side, with left-handed specimens being rare. 

Habitat:
Channeled whelks prefer sandy, shallow intertidal or subtidal areas and can be common in these habitats.

Range:
Channeled whelks range from Massachusetts through eastern Florida, and have been introduced into San Francisco Bay, California.