Description: This gastropod has a sharply pointed, turreted shell with prominent, raised ribs and strong spiral ridges. It reaches up to 5 cm in length and around 2.5 cm wide. The growth lines are visible. The siphonal canal is long and open and slightly curved in younger animals, but closed over in mature specimens. The shell is usually a creamy or off-white colour, often with brown patches or streaks. Their egg capsules are also characteristic, similar to the eggs of Nucella lapillus but with a flatter appearance.

Habitat: Rocky shores, in crevices or under stones from low water to depths of 150 m.

Distribution: Recorded from all around Britain and Ireland but more rare in NE Britain.

Similar Species: Could be confused with some of the whelks or the non-native American oyster drill Urosalpinx cinerea.

Key Identification Features:

• Distinctive turreted shell with prominent raised ribs and strong spiral ridges.
• Visible growth lines.
• Long siphonal canal, open in juveniles, closed in mature animals.
• Creamy, sometimes with brown patches.

Distribution Map from NBN: Ocenebra erinaceus at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Ocenebra erinaceus at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Ocenebra erinaceus

WoRMS: Ocenebra erinaceus at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Ocenebra erinaceus (Linnaeus, 1758). AphiaID: 140405.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Mollusca; Gastropoda; Caenogastropoda; Neogastropoda; Muricoidea; Muricidae; Ocenebrinae; Ocenebra