Muricid Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) in the Black Sea

Population structure and morphological variability as well as consumption rates and prey preferences of the muricid whelk Rapana venosa in the Black sea studied. The largest rapana specimens are found in the localities with enough food available. Rapana in the rest of the samples have lack of food and sizes several times smaller. The age structure of populations is characterized by lack of juvenile specimens. Results showed an average consumption of about 1 bivalve prey per day (or 0,789 g wet weight per day). Predation was species and size selective towards large specimens of Mytilus galloprovincialis.