Some believe these shells to have special healing properties. The Scotch Bonnet is the state shell of North Carolina and a rare find. I recently found one on Atlantic Beach, NC, and was ecstatic. They range in size from 2 to 4 inches, and the coloring can include yellow, orange, and brown.
This is a predatory, carnivorous sea snail that grows up to 2 inches in length. It is flat and pure white unless discoloration has occurred. You can find this shell from Maryland to Brazil and in Bermuda. I have found several in North Carolina. The Tiger Cowry lives on the ocean floor and is a carnivorous snail that eats coral, invertebrates, and algae.
This is a popular shell for collectors and is even used in decorating. Some women in Japan hold them during childbirth, believing that it has special powers. Cone snails are found in a variety of gorgeous colors and patterns. Never pick one up, though, because they have a stinging venom that can be fatal to humans. They are found in warm and tropical oceans and seas. Their coloring can include brown, orange, red, and white. They are often found attached to coral reefs.
There are many species of cowry, including the Snake Head Cowry pictured above. These beautiful shells can even sell for a high price today. This snail seeks out oysters and mussels by smell.
It then drills a hole in their shell to feed on them with their radula a tongue-like organ with miniature teeth. The Drill Snail causes serious destruction in commercial oyster farming. This enormous, thick shell can grow up to a whopping 16 inches long. The inside of the shell is usually light pink or red. Newer shells will have longer spines. This clam is named for its extremely sharp rim, which can injure someone walking on the beach.
The jackknife clam lives in sand and mud and can swim by shooting jets of water out of its shell. This shell is unusually strong for how thin and translucent it is. Jingle shells are named for the sound they make when several are strung together to make a wind chime. They are also used to make jewelry.
The Shark Eye snail can secrete an acidic enzyme that allows it to drill a hole in the shell of its prey in a matter of minutes. The enzymes then soften the flesh of the prey so the snail can devour its victim. This snail lives on mud or sand flats and can be found worldwide. Their small size and ornamental appearance have made them popular for use in jewelry dating back , years.
This snail can grow up to an amazing 4 feet in length and lives in the Mediterranean Sea. It produces silk-like threads which can be used to make an extremely rare and valuable fabric.
Periwinkles have been an important food source for parts of the world since around B. They are commonly sold in paper bags at beaches near Scotland after being boiled in seawater. They are considered a delicacy in Africa.
This shell has stunning patterns and striking colors. It is carnivorous and can grow up to 4 inches. It is mainly found in shallow waters in tropical seas. Rock Snails are mainly found in Florida and Alabama. They have been declining rapidly in number due to the extensive construction of dams.
They tend to live where they can attach themselves to rock or gravel in strong currents. Nautilus snails are only found in the Indo-Pacific and grow from 6 to 10 inches. They live deep in the ocean on coral reefs and use their 90 tentacles to gather food. It can be found in many bright colors, including red, orange, and purple. It can grow up to 6 inches in length. The Calico Scallop comes in a range of eye-catching colors and patterns.
Scallops have a large number of small eyes, which help them detect predators. Some scallops even squirt jets of water from around the edge of their shells to help them escape from predators. These scallop shells are about 4 inches wide and can be used for baking. You can cook or grill food in them or use them for serving condiments and appetizers. The Tellin shell is not considered rare but is a favorite among shell collectors for its color and texture. The empty shells look like butterflies when laid flat.
These shells resemble a toy spinning top. Top shells are brightly colored and can be found worldwide. The Chestnut Turban is shaped like a top or a turban. Wentletraps have a beautiful spiral shell that looks like a staircase. They live in all oceans worldwide but can be hard to find because they are so small. Many wentletraps are less than an inch long. This snail paralyzes its prey with sulphuric acid and then swallows it whole.
It lives in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Atlantic waters extending as far north as North Carolina. This large snail can grow up to 6 inches tall. The Queen Conch can grow up to 12 inches long and live up to 40 years. The meat is considered a delicacy by humans and also eaten by loggerhead sea turtles and horse conch. The Queen Conch is found in the Caribbean. Live Spirula are rarely seen as they are deep ocean dwellers, but shells are common to find on tropical beaches.
The Australian Trumpet is one of the largest shells in the world and can grow up to 35 inches. This small, pretty shell less than one inch in length is found in the Indian Ocean along Madagascar and the Western Pacific.
It can have spots or zig-zag stripes, hence the name Lightning Dove. Find on Amazon. I love finding fun spots in the Carolinas to visit like quaint towns, country stores, and fantastic food. I can't wait to share it with you!
The course that taught me all about affiliate marketing. Click HERE to learn more. The course that taught me how to start a blog. Wow this is an amazing guide to identifying shells! This is such a cool post! Oh and the sand dollar, we have them here on the Canadian West Coast, and ours are black when they are alive. Wow what an extensive guide!
Seashells are so beautiful. But I think a little at a time creates such a lovely momento from your trip. Even today, artists attempt to recreate the natural patterns of shells. Beyond the symbolic use of the shell, such as the famous art pieces The Birth of Venus , studying different kinds of seashells has led to us truly understanding our world.
These calcium carbonate forms can inspire stronger man-made materials for multiple purposes. But the creatures inside are sometimes even more fascinating. Usually and sometimes hopefully , the creatures inside of a shell are long gone by the time a child picks it up along the beach.
But the thing that wandered off is still important to local ecosystems. Estimates range from 70, to , known species of shell dwellers. Usually, these creatures can be broken down into two groups : bivalves, which have two shells connected by a hinge, and gastropods, which have one shell and no hinge.
Because we humans love cowries so much, we tend to have a deeper understanding of those types of seashells and their names. But much deeper along the ocean floor could exist a vast range of mollusks and other creatures with shells that never reach the shores.
Underwater Photography. Nature Photography. Dangerous Plants and Animals. Seashell Identification. Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana. Turks Head Cacti. Environmental Conservation. Type your search terms and pause for instant results. Turks and Caicos Seashell Identification.
Seashells from the Turks and Caicos! Turks and Caicos triton and murex shells. Triton and Murex Shells.
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