Pear Whelk Fulguropsis spirata The Pear Whelk is a smaller whelk, growing up to 6½ inches. Its color is yellowish or orangeish, with brown axial streaks. Whelks are carnivorous, finding their prey by sight and smell. They prefer bivalves, and eat about one clam-like animal a month. They hunt down prey, then insert the edge of their shell between the opening edges of the victim's shell, and pry it open. If that fails they use their shell to grind a hole in the shell. The radula (tiny teeth) and proboscis (nose) are used to scrape out the soft tissues. They live in calmer waters where sea grasses are present. Live shells should never be taken from any Florida State Park.