Title
Lightning Whelk (Sinistrofulgur sinistrum)
FMM2011.20.017
Subject
seashells, gastropods, shell collectors
Description
Large, white shell with faint traces of pink lines on sides. Spiral is a light grayish-purple.
When held with the spiral end up, the opening of the lightning whelk is on the left. This is unlike most other gastropods, where the opening is on the right. In fact, the scientific species name, sinistrum, is Latin for “on the left side”. The word sinister, in the sense of evil, comes from the same root. In ancient times, bad omens were often associated with the left and good omens with the right, and may have contributed to this alternate definition.
When held with the spiral end up, the opening of the lightning whelk is on the left. This is unlike most other gastropods, where the opening is on the right. In fact, the scientific species name, sinistrum, is Latin for “on the left side”. The word sinister, in the sense of evil, comes from the same root. In ancient times, bad omens were often associated with the left and good omens with the right, and may have contributed to this alternate definition.
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