West Indian Top Shell

Cittarium pica

Although locals call these snails "wilks" they are not like the Whelks found in the cooler water off shore the United States and Europe. These snails are special because they are the only known living species in their genus. Their shells are thick, heavy, round and smooth without any shell "tail" like the tulip snails or other whelks. They are extinct in some areas because of over harvesting and exploitation. It is the discarded shells of these snails that are used by the islands land crabs. Once a year, the millions of land "soldier" crabs migrate to the sea to find new, larger shells to live in for protection. They are also called  the Magpie Shell.