Dogwinkles (Nucella spp.)

Description: Dogwinkles are a type of marine snail commonly found at Haystack Rock. Three varieties typically spotted by visitors include the northern striped dogwinkle (Nucella ostrina), the lined dogwinkle (Nucella analoga), and the frilled dogwinkle (Nucella lamellosa). Their names accurately describe their appearance but can also easily be confused with one another. All of these dogwinkle species can vary greatly in color, thickness, banding, and shape, so identifying these mollusks can be tricky.

The northern striped dogwinkle can range in color from white to black with most being closer to brown or yellow. They usually have dark brown or black stripes spiraling around its shell but is less common on the white or lighter colored individuals. It may also have frilled ribs down the shell. The inside of the norther striped dogwinkle is typically purple, but that’s not often visible when the snail is living. They can get up to 3 cm in length.

The lined dogwinkle is lighter in color - white to orange. The striped spiral lines are often thinner than that of the northern striped dogwinkle, but again, there is a lot of variation that can lead to overlaps in appearance between the two species. They can get slightly bigger, reaching 3.5 cm.

The frilled dogwinkle is named for the frilled edges that curl up from its shell (but these are not always present). They come in colors from white, brown, gray, orange, or thickly banded with a variety of colors. The whorls/spirals on the shells tend to be larger and more defined than the other two dogwinkles. Frilled dogwinkles grow to be 8 cm long.

Habitat: All of these species can be found in the intertidal zone clinging to rocks from Alaska to northern California. The frilled dogwinkle range may extend further to central California.

Diet: Dogwinkles are predatory and feed on barnacles, mussels and other mollusks. To get inside of these shelled animals, dogwinkles drill a hole into the shell and use their long proboscis (similar to a straw) to suck out the flesh.

Tide Pool Tidbits:

• Dense groups of dogwinkle eggs can be found covering patches of rock in the spring and summer. These oval-shaped eggs are usually a pale white or yellow color; sometimes, the eggs are referred to as “sea oats” because of their resemblance.

• Frilled dogwinkles have been timed while feeding on barnacles and researchers found it took 6.7 hr to drill and eat an acorn barnacle compared to the 17.4 hr it took to consume a thatched barnacle!

References: The New Beachcomber’s Guide to the Pacific Northwest by J Duane Sept