veined rapa whelk
A species of sea snail, Rapana venosa. Used in biological and culinary contexts.
The veined rapa whelk is a sea snail that can be found even in Tokyo Bay.
アカニシの貝殻は大きくて厚い。
The shell of the veined rapa whelk is large and thick.
Katakana spelling is common for this species name; usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling, also used.
Kanji form exists but is rarely used; the word is usually written in kana.
The name likely derives from 赤 (aka, 'red') and 螺 (nishi, 'whelk'), referring to the reddish shell of this species. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.