Template:POTD/2014-12-01
Five views of the shell of the veined rapa whelk (Rapana venosa), a species of large predatory sea snail in the family Muricidae. The species' shell is rounded and heavy, possessing a very short spire, a large body whorl, a strong, orange columella and a deep umbilicus. The aperture is a deep orange, large, and roughly ovate. On the outside, the shell color varies from gray to reddish-brown, with dark brown dashes on the spiral ribs.Photograph: H. Zell