The
common name "whelk" is also spelled
welk or even
wilk. The species, genera and families referred to by this common name vary a great deal from one geographic area to another.
Asia In Japan, are frequently used in
sashimi and
sushi. In Vietnam, they are served in a dish called
Bún ốc - vermicelli with sea snails. '''' () is a Korean dish consisting of whelks and with chili sauce in a salad with cold noodles. It has been a very popular side dish with alcohol for many generations.
Australia, New Zealand In
Australia and
New Zealand, species of the genus
Cabestana (family
Ranellidae) are called
predatory whelks, and species of
Penion (family
Buccinidae) are called
siphon whelks.
Brazil In
Brazil, there is a very popular
Afro-Brazilian divination game practiced by older women of African ancestry called
jogo de búzios (game of whelks), which uses empty shells of these
gastropods.
United Kingdom and Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands In the
British Isles,
Belgium and the
Netherlands (
wulk/
wullok), the word is used for a number of species in the family
Buccinidae, especially
Buccinum undatum, an edible
European and
Northern Atlantic species. In the British Isles, the common name "dog whelk" is used for
Nucella lapillus (family Muricidae) and for
Nassarius species (family
Nassariidae). Historically, they were a popular street food in Victorian London, typically located close to public houses and theatres.
Scotland In
Scotland, the word "whelk" is also used to mean the
periwinkle (
Littorina littorea), family
Littorinidae.
United States In the
United States,
whelk refers to several large edible species in the genera
Busycon and
Busycotypus, which are now classified in the family
Buccinidae. These are sometimes called
Busycon whelks. In addition, the unrelated
invasive species
Rapana venosa is referred to as the
Veined rapa whelk or
Asian rapa whelk; it's a
murex in the family
Muricidae.
West Indies In the English-speaking islands of the
West Indies, the word
whelks or
wilks (this word is both singular and plural) is applied to a large edible
top shell,
Cittarium pica, also known as the
magpie or
West Indian top shell, family
Trochidae. ==Some common examples==