Naming Seashells Found In the Tropics

Collecting seashells is a favorite pastime and everyone who has vacationed at the beach has most likely picked up some seashells at some point.

Then there are the true collectors who search for the elusive Pink Conchs and Jujonias.

Everyone wants to find a unique and special shell and of course the large ones are what we hope to see, but even the tiniest shells can also be amazingly beautiful.

I am not an expert by any means, but I have a large collection of shells that came mostly from the shores of the Gulf coast of Florida, with a few collected on the Atlantic beaches as well.

My larger shells, such as the Queen Conchs and Pink Murex, and Cowries were all purchased many years ago at shell shops in Florida.

I hope that this lens will help you to be able to name the shells in your collection and impress others when on vacation at the beach.

Imagine telling your sweetie, "Oh look honey, I just found a Mermaid's Toenail!"

Atlantic Slipper Shells

Also found in the Pacific

Although these were collected from Florida beaches, this shell is found from Canada to Texas and also on the Western coast of the US (according to my reference book), as well as parts of Europe.

These small, arched shells have a shelf underneath which protects the animal inside.

When turned upside down, the shell looks like a slipper. It is sometimes known as a "Boat Shell".

Cowry or Cowrie Shells

Know for their shiny, porcelain- like texture, this shell can be very small or quite large. The ones in this photo are 3 and 4 inches long. The small shells are often used to make jewelry and have been widely used throughout history as currency.

Pen Shells

These large irridescent shells can be a foot long and in some areas even longer.

The pen shell is often broken when found on the beach. It's shell is thin and fan shaped.

In Ancient times the Noble Pen shell, found in the Mediterranean Sea had threads "sea silk" that were used to weave into fabric. Very few people still use the threads for cloth now.

Lightning Whelk; The "Left Handed" Seashell

I remember there being quite a lot of these lightning whelk seashells on Sanibel Island when I visited, but most of them were occupied by the owner.

At the time I had no idea what they were, so I didn't pay any attention to which side the opening was on, but the common lightning whelk has it's opening on the left side and is therefore called a "left-handed" shell.

The Olive Shells

Jingle Shells

Also known as "Mermaids Toenails"

ingle shells are small, translucent, shells. They are practically flat and it's possible to wonder if they are a shell or something else.

Actually the jingle shell is a clamshell. They are generally 1 or 2 inches in width and come in various colors such as black, yellow, white and orange.

They are almost always a single half - with no connected parts - when found on shore and the reason is most likely that they attach themselves to a solid object in the ocean and the top breaks off and washes on shore once the animal dies.

Sundial Seashell

bFairly common marine snail shell. This one is about 2 inches in diameter.

Jujonia Shell

On the right in this poster

The Jujonia (see another photo here) is a large shell with very distinctive brown spots. Since it's located far off shore when alive, finding one on the shore is not very likely and if you do, it might not be in very good shape.

On Sanibel, if you happen to find one you are famous and get to have your picture in the local newspaper. That's how rare they are, even on the best shelling beach in the United States!

Pink Murex Seashell