(Gmelin, 1791)
Description (shell):
Shell like that of Beringius turtoni in shape (tall spire, blunt apex, swollen whorls) but with only 5-6 whorls, less obvious periostracum, and the surface is smooth to the naked eye. When closely examined the surface always shows prosocline growth lines, whilst some slight spiral striae are occasionally visible. Last whorl occupies two thirds of shell height or a little more. The subsutural area of each whorl is not flattened, and may show a tendency to thicken and wrinkle immediately below the suture. The aperture is widely oval, more pointed adapically than in Beringius turtoni and relatively higher and narrower; it is always widely confluent with a short siphonal canal. Aperture occupies about 60 % of shell height. Columella is distinctly flexuous. There is no siphonal fasciole (V. norwegicus).
Size:
Up to 100 x 60 mm.
Colour:
Cream or white, the apex darker; throat sometimes a little pink.
Animal:
The animal shows the same external features as Buccinum undatum though the tentacles are stubbier, the foot larger and the operculum a little more pointed. The flesh is cream or yellowish with purple-brown markings.
Habitat:
Lives on soft bottoms to depths of about 600 m.
Distribution:
A northern species with a range stretching across the entire breadth of the Atlantic and reaching into the northern parts of the North Sea, though the animals are not commonly found there (Distr. V. norwegicus).