Dogwinkle

/ˈdɔɡwɪŋkəl/ noun

Definition

A small sea snail that lives on rocky coasts and eats barnacles and mussels by drilling into their shells.

Etymology

From 'dog' (an intensifier suggesting something small or inferior) and 'winkle' (a sea snail). The creature itself comes from coastal ecology terminology.

Kelly Says

These tiny snails are nature's power drills—they secrete acid that slowly dissolves a hole through a mussel's shell, then insert a tube-like tongue to suck out the inside. They're so efficient that they're actually used to control invasive mussels in some areas.

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