The “Japanese Oyster Drill” is a muricid famous as an invasive species. Although the native distribution range of this species is from Sakhalin, Russia to northern China, South Korea, and Japan; it has been introduced to North America and western Europe with exports of the Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793).

It is a major predator of oysters and is widely recognised as a great threat to oyster aquaculture both in native and introduced regions, often causing devastating damage. Its vertical distribution is from intertidal waters down to about -20m deep, and it is commonly found on rocks or bivalves.

Very variable in sculpture and form like many members of genus Ocenebra, and the specimen shown has very well developed wing-like varices. Average shell length around 40mm, although large specimens may exceed 55mm. – From Chong Chen’s post

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