Neptunea lyrata
Introduction Abapertural view of the shell of ''Neptunea lyrata'''''''Neptunea lyrata''''', also known by the common names '''New England Neptune''', '''wrinkled whelk''', '''ribbed Neptune''', '''inflated whelk''', '''lyre whelk'''  or '''lyre Neptune''', is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Buccinidae, and is the state shell of Massachusetts. This species consists of several subspecies.The New England Neptune (''Neptunea lyrata decemcostata'') was declared the state seashell of Massachusetts in 1987.
Subspecies * ''Neptunea lyrata altispira''* ''Neptunea lyrata lyrata'' Gmelin, 1791 - lyre whelk* ''Neptunea lyrata decemcostata'' (Say, 1826) – wrinkled whelk or New England Neptune – synonyms: ''Chrysodomus decemcostata'' (Say, 1826); ''Tritonium decemcostata'' (Say, 1826); ''Fusus decemcostatus'' Say, 1826; ''Neptunea turnerae'' Clarke, 1956* ''Neptunea lyrata turnerae'' Clarke, 1956
Distribution ''Neptunea lyrata'' occurs in the Western Atlantic Ocean, and also off Alaska.
References
External links *  ''Neptunea lyrata'' at National Center for Biotechnology Information website*  image of ''Neptunea lyrata decemcostata''*  Photos