Atlantic Oyster Drill
Urosalpinx cinerea
The Atlantic oyster drill is a small snail with a pointed, ribbed shell. (The Southeastern Regional Taxonomic Center, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources)
The Atlantic oyster drill is a small, predatory snail with a pointed, ribbed shell. It lives on reefs, rocks and pilings throughout the middle and lower Chesapeake Bay.
Appearance:
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Oval-shaped shell with a pointed spire (tip)
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Varies in color from gray or purplish to tan or yellowish-white
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5-6 raised whorls
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Brown, spiraling vertical ribs
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Thin, flared lip with small teeth
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Grows to about 1 inch long
Habitat:
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Lives on oyster reefs, rocks, pilings and bay grass beds in shallow waters
Range:
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Found year-round in the middle to lower Chesapeake Bay
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Cannot survive in the upper Bay’s low-salinity waters
Feeding:
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Feeds mainly on oysters, but will also eat barnacles, mussels and other small mollusks
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Secretes an enzyme to soften an oyster’s shell, then drills pin-sized holes through the shell to reach the oyster’s soft parts inside.
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
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Spawns throughout the summer
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Lays distinctive leathery, vase-shaped eggs that attach to a hard surface
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Larvae crawl from the eggs within 6-8 weeks
Other Facts:
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A significant oyster predator, particularly in parts of the lower Bay
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Oyster drills are gastropods, a type of mollusk that includes whelks, snails and slugs
Sources and Additional Information:
