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SEASHELLS
OF THE WORL
D
A GUIDE TO THE BETTER-KNOWN SPECIES
by

R. TUCKER ABBOTT, Ph.D.

Under the editorship of
HERBERT S. ZIM, Ph.D., Sc.D.

Illustrated by
GEORGE AND MARITA SANDSTROM

Imperial Harp 3"

Indian Ocean
Harpa costata L.

GOLDEN PRESS

NEW YORK

'Western Publishing Company, Inc.

Racine, Wisconsin

FOREWORD
Shells occupy a unique place in the natural world. No
other animals are as widely collected, traded, or bought
and sold because of the i r beauty, attractiveness and rar
ity. Each year an increasing number of people want to
identify, classify and understand the beautiful shells they
see or collect. This guide is necessarily a brief sampling of
the many thousands of marine shells. Because it is a guide
for collecting we have emphasized attractive and better
known spec ies, occasionally slighting some common spe
c ies and familiar genera. We hope that the pastime of shell
collecting will lead to increasing interest in the fascinating
animals which make the shells.
The author, editor and art i sts wish to express thei r
appreciation to the Academy of Natural Sciences of P h i l
adelphia for the use of its extensive research collections in
the preparation of this book. We also owe a debt to the
artists, George and Morita Sandstrom, for their excellent
work on the illustrations.
R. T.A.
H.S.Z.

Carrier Shell ( Xenophora)

is the original shell collec
tor. It gathers small empty
shells and attaches them to
itself. This is the common
Japa nese Carrier S h e l l .

Copyright 1985. 1962 b y Western Publishing Company. Inc. All rights reserved.
including rights of reproduction and use in any form or by any means. including the
making of copies by any photo process, or by any electronic or mechanical device.
printed or written or oral, or recording for sound or visual reproduction or for use in any
knowledge retrieval system or device, unless permission in writing is obtained from the
copyright pro rietor. Produced in the U.S.A. by Western Publishing Company, Inc .
ew York, N. Y Library of Congress Catalog Card Number:
N
-

&
gg69 ':no

4
i

THE CLAS S E S OF MOL LUSKS

All seashells have soft bodies. The th in, fleshy mantle
usually secretes a limy shell, either as a single cone or a
pai r of valves, or rarely in 8 par t s . About half the mollusks
are marine; the others land or fresh-water.

Marine

Fresh-water

Land

SNAILS, ar gastropods, have a single shell, usually coiled. They have a

distinct head with tentacles and a rasping tongue (the radula). Most of
the 40,000 species have shells. (pp . 22-128)
B IVA LV E S , or pelecypods, are
mollusks with two valves joined by
a hinge, a horny ligament, and one
or two muscles. Most of the 10,000
species ore marine; others are
fresh-water.
pp. 129-155

C E P H A LO P O D S include squid,
octopus and the Nautilus. Very ac
tive animals with large eyes, pow
erful jaws and with 8-90 tentacles .
About 600 species.
T U S K S H E LLS (about 300 marine
species) live in curved, toothlike
shells open at both ends.
C H ITO N S are primitive, marine
mollusks with 8-plated shells
imbedded in tough tissue. There
are about 600 shallow-water
species.
MONOPLAC O P H O RA, until re
cently known only from fossils. A
rare deep-sea, primitive group. The
soft parts are segmented. 1"

pp . 156-157

Order
TECTIBRAN

Tritons
page 68

True Conchs
page 42

Abalones
page 24

G U I D E TO U N I VALV ES

Vases
page90

MAJ OR GROUPS OF MARINE SNAILS

From the primitive slit shells and the i r limpet allies to the
highly evolved bubble shells and cones, the marine snails
show great diversity in shape and sculpture. Of the thou
sand or more families of gastropods, 34 are pictured in
this family key (with page numbers). They include the vast
majority of the better-known sea snails t hat are apt to be
found in amateur collections.
G U I D E TO U N I VA LV E S

Piddocks
(not in text}

Bittersweets
(not in text}

MAJOR GROUPS 0 MARINE BIVALVES

are less numerous than marine gastropods but

are of greater economic value . Clams, oysters, mussels
and scallops are eaten . One group produces nearly all
natural and cultured pearls . The families shown on the tree
are most commonly seen in collections .
B I VA LV E S

G U I D E TO B I VALV E S

OTHER GROUPS OF
S EASHELLS
C E P H A L O P O D S inc lude the oc
topus, which has no shel l, and the
squids, with a thin internal shell .
The Nauti lus of the Indo- Pacific
has a smooth, chambered shel l .
The Argonaut's paper-thin she l l is
an eggcase . Pages 156-157.

C h a m bered N a u t i l u s 6"
Nautilus pampilius Linne
Southwest Pacific

are a group of flattened mollusks, some worm

like, most covered w i t h eight shingle-li ke, overlapping
plates held in place by a muscular ring cal led the girdle.
They live on rocks near shore and feed on algae .
C H I TO N S

West In d i a n Ch iton 2-3"

._.___
Chiton tuberculata Linne
West Indies
H a i ry Mopa l i a

2"

Mopalia cilia to Sowerby

Alaska to California

or scaphopods, are tooth-shaped shel l s

found i n shallow and deep water. These odd mol lusks are
without gills (the mantle assumes th i s function), head, eyes
or true tentac les . Some spec ies were once h ighly valued by
American Indians.
T U S K S H E L LS,

El ephant's Tus k

Dentalium
elephantinum Linne

3"

Philippines

OT H E R C L AS S E S

YOUR S H E L L COL L E CTION

A well-arranged , orderly col lection of she lls has many
surpr i s i ng rewa rds: a sense of scientific acco m p l i shment,
pride i n b u i l d i ng a n educational and bea utiful assortment,
a sti m u l u s to i nvestigate a n intrigu i ng group of a n i m a l s .
Record loca l i t y data a n d best possible identification; fol
l ow a natura l biologica l sequence, and your co llection will
serve as a useful guide and a constant source of sati sfac
tion . Beg i n ea rly to use a simple cabinet, m u l t i ple-si zed
paper trays, plastic boxes or match boxes , good labels,
and a cata log with num bers correspond i ng to those written
i n India i nk on the labe l s and specimens. Sma ll she l l s , with
numbered s l i ps, may be put into glass vials, and the vials
plugged with cotto n .
A wooden cabinet (4 ft. high, 3 ft. deep and 2'12
ft. wide) with wooden drawers on simple runners
protects your shells from dust and careless hands.

Boxes made of cardboard of uni

form height and of multiple sizes
permit an orderly arrangement and
best use of space.
labels should bear the genus and
species name. Most important are
the locality data and other perti
nent information.

COLLECT I N G

COLLECTING MARINE SHELLS

B EA C H C O M B I N G

Few m o l l usks l ive o n the bea c h , but after storms fresh

spec imens may be cast upon the shore . Some a ppear o n l y
at certa i n seaso n s . Avoid damaged and water-worn shells .
NIG H T C O L L E CT I N G

Mo l l usks avoid bright sun l ight. A t low t i d e t u r n over rocks;

d ig i n sand . Shore collecting at n ight i n q u iet bays is very
profitable . Two people wor k i ng together are most
effective .
DIVING

Goi ng down where many she l l s l ive brings r i c h rewa rds i n

perfect spec imens. Watch f o r tra i l s i n t h e sand . P u t she l l s
i n a fine mesh bag. Fo l l ow safety rules.
DREDGING

A s i m p l e wire-mesh dredge , 24" wide, 3 6 " long a n d 8 "

high, c a n b e p u l l ed b y rope at depths down t o 100 feet.
Wash sand away and pick out she l l s .
EXC H A N G I N G

Trade with c o l lectors i n foreign lands. Send perfect speci

mens with loca l i t y data . Wrap secure l y. A good way to
i ncrease your col lection and to make friends. Be as gener
ous as poss i b l e .
B U YI N G S H E L LS

Ma ny re l i a b l e dealers se l l spec i men shel l s . Compare prices

from severa l mail l i sti ngs and then use good judgment.
Insist on l oca l i t y data . Avoid acid-treated she l l s .
C O LL E CT I N G

PREPARING S HELLS F OR S TUDY

When collecting, observe the l ive a n i m a l s and note their

habits . So little is known a bout many species that every
accurate observation i s of va l u e . N ote color and other
deta i l s , relative abunda nce , type of botto m , food , egg
laying or mati ng habits, methods of concealment, water
temperature, associated pla nts and a n i m a l s . Record your
facts i n a fie l d noteboo k . When cata l oging, enter the
notebook page on the collection labe l .
The soft parts and she l l s of m oll usks may be permanently
preserved i n 70% a l cohol . If not to be used for anatomica l
study, clams a n d snails may b e boiled i n water for five
m i nutes and the "meat" removed with a bent p i n or ice
pick . Save the opercu l u m , or tra pdoor, to each sna i l . It is
u nwise to use acid on shel l s . Clean exterior with fine wire
brush or buffi ng wheel .

CONSERVATION

Be considerate of nature and other collectors when looking

for l ive shell s . D i sturb the habitat as little as poss i b l e , and
turn back rocks as you found them . Otherwise, the eggs,
young and food of sna i l s will be k i l l ed by d irect sunl ight.
Pollution and u psetting the eco logy of the ocean shores
a re the ma in reasons for the reduction of l ive she l l s , but
collectors can help by taking o n ly a few of each ki n d .
Leave you ng or poor specimens, si nce they w i l l grow to lay
more eggs and produce additional generations . In some
states shel lfishery laws proh ibit the col lecting of va rious
kinds at spec i a l seasons or under certa i n s i zes. F i nd out
a bout the perti nent laws and regu lations i n your a rea, and
follow the m .
10

ST U DY I N G

MORE INF ORMATION

Basic i nformation about malacology, or conchol ogy, the

study of m o l l u sks, is found in thousands of technical a r t i
cles. O f greater u s e to collectors are t h e books l i sted
below, some of which l i st the addresses of local she l l c l u bs
and nationa l she l l orga n i zations. Visit the fa mous she l l
co l l ections i n natura l h i story museums of large cities. Cu
rators of these co l l ections can give professiona l advice .
GENERAL BOOKS

Abbott, R. Tucker, KINGDOM OF THE SEASHELL. New York: Bononzo Books,

1 982 . Introduction to biology, collecting, uses, ond evolution of
seashells.
Johnstone, Kathleen Y. SEA TREASURE-A GUIDE TO SHELL COLLECTING. Bos
ton: Houghton Mifflin Co. , 1 956 . For beginners.
Wagner, R. J. l., and R. Tucker Abbott. STANDARD CATALOG OF SHELLS.
Melbourne, Flo. : American Molocologists, Inc. , 1 978 . Lists thousands
of species with current values. Has blank personal catalog, world size
records. For intermediate collectors.
Yonge, C. M. , and T. E . Thompson. LIVING MARINE MOLLUSKS. London:
William Collins Sons, 1 976. Readable biology textbook.
NORTH AMERICA

Abbott, R. Tucker. AMERICAN SEASHELLS. 2nd ed. New York: Von Nostrand/
Reinhold, 1974 . Describes and illustrates 1, 500 of the 7, 500 species
listed from both coasts. For advanced collectors.
Abbott, R. Tucker. SEASHELLS OF NORTH AMERICA. New York: Golden Press,
1 969. A colorful guide to field identification of 900 species. Includes
biology. For intermediate collectors.
Abbott, R. Tucker. COLLECTIBLE SHELLS OF SOUTHEASTERN U. S. AND BAHAMAS.
Melbourne, Flo. : American Molocologists, Inc. , 1984 . Waterproof,
tear-resistant guide to 300 species. For beginning collectors.
Keen, Myra. SEA SHELLS OF TROPICAL WEST AMERICA. 2nd ed. Stanford,
Calif. : Stanford Univ. Press, 197 1 . About 3,300 species illustrated.
Lorge bibliography. For advanced collectors.
FOREIGN

Abbott, R. Tucker, and S. Peter Donee. COMPENDIUM OF SEASHELLS. New

York: E . P. Dutton, 1983 . 4,200 species illustrated. For advanced
collectors.
Linder, Gert. FIELD GUIDE TO SEASHELLS OF THE WORLD. New York: Von
Nostrand/Reinhold, 1 978. About 1, 000 species. For intermediate
collectors.

B I B LIOGRAPHY

1 1

TH E WORLD OF MARINE S H E L L S
Although the seas , which cover 72 percent o f the earth's
surface , are interconnected , parts of the oceans are iso
lated by land masses . Ocean currents, water temperatu res
and differences in salinity also act as barriers and create
smal ler sub-areas within fa unistic provinces . Present fau
nistic boundaries were largely determined d u ring the Pli
ocene, 10 million years ago . These are not clearly defined ;
some species invade the waters of neighboring provinces .
Temperature is an important iso lating factor. Within a
province there may be specia l habitats suitable only to
certain species-coral reefs, m uddy or sandy bottoms,
mangrove swamps or rocky shores . Some groups flou rish
in certain provinces, as the limpets in South Africa and the
cowries in the I n d o - Pacific . Some mollusks are associated
only with certain other animals, such as the wentletraps
with sea anemones, and rapa snails with soft cora l s .
COLD-WATE R FAU N A
Few species; usually
dull in color

12

DISTRIBUTION

DIS TRIBUTION OF MOLLUSKS WITH DEPTH

T H E PELAGIC WO RLD
Adults of about 1 00 species of
mollusks live near the surface of
the ocean. Some float, some are
attached to sargassum weed,
others hover in mid-water.

T H E LITTO RAL WO RLD

A million miles of the world's inter
tidal shoreline support a rich fauna
of periwinkles, limpets, burrowing
clams, mussels and other species
living between high- and low-tide
level.

T H E S HALLOW-WAT E R WO RLD
Most of the marine mollusks live on
the continental shelves and in coral
reefs from the low-tide line to
depths of about 400 feet. The rel
atively quiet waters and growth of
algae permit a rich fauna to exist.

THE ABYSSAL WO RLD

Small, mainly colorless shells live
in the lightless depths of the ocean
where temperatures are near
freezing. Abyssal species are
somewhat similar in all parts of the
world. Squids have phosphores
cent lights of blue, red and white.
Deep-sea mollusks living near the
equator are found in much shal
lower waters in the polar seas
where the water is cold. Some food
comes from pelagic plants and an
imals which die and sink to the
bottom. Both clams and snails have
been found 3 miles down.

DIST R I B U TIO N

13

CALIFORNIAN PROVINCE

Stretching from Washington to parts of

Ba ja Ca lifornia is a cool -water fauna of
about 2, l 00 species. To the north is the
cold -water Aleutian Province, some of
whose species find their way as fa r south
as northern Ca lifornia . In southern Ca l
ifornia, elements of the Pana mic Prov
ince, a much warmer a rea, begin to
appear. The Ca lifornia n Province is rich
in abalones, murex rock she l l s, limpets
and chitons . Among some of the char
acteristic species are the Kel p-weed
Scallop and the Purple Dwarf Olive .
Purple Dwarf O l ive

0/ivello biplicoto Sower by

Kel p-weed S c a l l o p

Leptopecten latiouratus

C h itons
Over 50 species

Conrad

Haliotis Aba l o nes

Several large species
Cooper's N utmeg

Cancellaria coaperi

14

CALIF ORNIAN PROVINCE

onrad

CAROLINIAN PROVINCE

From the shores of the Carolinas, to the

northern half of Florida and westward
into Texas, the temperate-water Caro
l i n i an Province is c h aracteri zed by
Quahog Clams (Mercenaria) and by such
species as the Shark-eye Moon Snail
and the Marsh Periwinkle. The southern
tip of Florida belongs to the tropical
Caribbean Province. To the north, from
Maine to labrador, is the colder Boreal
Province with a di fferent and less rich
shell fauna. The New England Neptune
lives to the north .
Sha rk-eye Moon S n a i l
Polinices duplicatus Say

Qua hog C l a m
M ercenaria mercenaria l.

New E n g l a n d N e p t u n e
Neptunea decemcostata S o y
N e w Eng land and north
Oyster D r i l l
Eupleura coudoto Say

C A R O L I N I A N P R OV I N C E

15

INDO-PACIF IC PROVINCE

The largest a n d richest shell region in the wor l d extends

from the shores of East Africa eastward through the East
I ndies to Polynesi a . Notable for its abunda nce of co lorfu l
shel l s , it supports many stra nge and unique m oll usks, such
as the Giant Clams (Tridacna), the Scorpion Conchs (Lam
bis), a n d the Hea rt Cockles (Corculum) . Most of the Indo
Pacific i s characteri zed by tropica l waters and coral reefs.
The province i s further divided into more or less isolated
sub- regio n s .

L i n eoted Conch
Strombus fosciatus Born

16

THE RED SEA i s an isolated, warm-water

pocket of the Indian Ocean noted for its
many peculiar subspecies and such un ique
species as the lineated Conch (Strombus
fasciatus Born), and Red-spotted Cowrie
(Cypraea erythraeenis Sowerby) .

IN D O - PACIFIC P R OVIN C E

HAWAII

Vo lvo

...

Tridocna ""

or,

Corculum

AUSTRALIA i s, along its tropical northern

half, a land of rare and colorful volutes
and strange Spiny Vase Shells (Tudicula).
The seas ore shallow with strong tides. The
seas of southern Australia are much colder
and hove many d i fferent shel ls, such as the
g iant phosione l l o s .
THE HAWAIIA N C HA IN of vol can ic i s
lands in the cental Pacific locks many com
mon Indo- Pacific species. It has same
un ique cowries and cone she l l s. The Tiger
Cowrie, common e lsewhere, is rare here
and very Iorge.
THE PHILIPPI N E S, consisting of thou
sands of islands, are very rich in mollusks.
Several u n ique k i nds ore found i n these
waters, including the I m perial Volute and
the Zambo Murex . Some normally uncom
mon species are abundant on the reefs of
P h i l i ppine i s lands.

Bed na il 's Vol ute

Volutoconus bednalli
Brazier

Tessellate Cowrie
Cypraea fessellato

Swa i n son

I m perial Vol u te

Aulica imperialis

Lightfoot

I N D O - PAC I F I C P R OV I N C E

17

"

PANAMIC PROVINCE

From the Gulf of Ca lifornia to northern

Ecuador, the tropical Panamic P rovince
supports a rich, colorful fauna of over
2, 000 marine shel ls. Connected wit h the
Caribbean in former geologic times, the
fauna resembles that of the West I ndies .
Tid a l ranges are extreme in this a rea .
The gen us Strombina and such species
as the Tent Olive are native .

SOUTH
AMERICA

Gri n n ln t Tu n
.Malea ringer; Swainiolt

18

PA N AMIC P R OVI N C E

CARIBBEAN PROVINCE

Centered in the West Indies, this tropical province extends

north to southern Florida and Bermuda. Many Caribbean
elements spread out to the south as far as Brazil. Among
the characteristic species are the Pink Conch, the Wide
mouthed Purpura and the Sunrise Tellin. The fauna is rich
in Cassis, Murex and Te/lina. The larger West Indian islands
have over 1,200 species of shelled marine mollusks. Iso
lated coral islands, poor in food, have only about 350
kinds of mollusks.

C A RI B B E A N P R OVI N C E

19

MEDITERRANEAN PROVINCE

The most isolated of the world's major sea s , the Mediter

ranean is relatively shallow and less dense than the Atlan
tic . Its fauna o f 1, 400 species o f mollusks spreads a round
Portugal to southern France and along the northwest coast
of Africa . Also known as the Lusitania n Province, it con
tains such unique shells as the Pelican's Foot, Jacob's Scal
lop, and the Murex Dye S ells .

NORTH AFRICA

Lurid Cowrie

Cypraea lurida

Linne

Spiny He l met

Go/eodeo echinophora

Purple Dye Murex

Murex brandaris

Linne

20

l.

Jacob's Scallop

Pecten jacobaeus

Linne

JAPANESE PROVINCE

Lyi ng between the cold

water A l euti a n Provi nce
and the tropica l I ndo
Pacific, the centra l is
lands of J a pa n conta i n a
rich a n d d i stinct temper
ate marine faun a .

SOUTH AF RICAN PROVINCE

Cool, rough seas pound the rocky shore l i n e of South Af

rica . Its isol ated fauna of a bout 900 species is rich i n giant
lim pets, turbans and Thais rocky she l l s , p l u s stra nge, coo l
water cowries and cone she l l s .
Patella L i m pets
21 species
Rosy Cone

Conus tinionus Hwoss

Cape Cowrie

Cypraeo copensis Gray

21

GASTROPODS
hea r t

tentacle

probosci s
foot
cross section of probosc i s
rodulor
ri bbon
egg capsule

mouth
eggs

rodu l o r teeth

free-sw i m m i ng
veliger

GAS T R O P O D S, or un iva lves , s i ngle-she l l ed mollusks, in

clude sna i l s , conchs , periwinkles and whelks . About ha lf of
the 40, 000 species are marine; the remai nder are terres
tria l and fresh-water. The fleshy, cape-l ike mantle pro
d uces a hard shell , while the foot may produce a horny
opercu l u m . Feed i ng i s a ided by a special set of teeth known
as the radu l a . The sexes are separate i n many marine
species . Eggs a re la id i nto the water or i n capsu l e s . A free
swi m m i ng larva , or "vel iger, " emerges wh ich grows into a
she l l ed a d u l t . Most gastropods l ive 5 to 6 yea rs; some may
survive 20 or 30. U n ivalves may be ca rn ivorous, herbivo
rous or even parasitic.
22

U N I VA LV E S

S L I T S H E LLS (Pieurotoma r i idae) a re pri mit ive sna i l s char

acteri zed by two gill plumes. The slit i n the she l l i s a natura l
ope n i ng for the passage of water and waste mater i a l s . The
fa m i l y, fou n d i n very early fossil deposits, was once consid
ered to be exti nct. Today 18 living deep-water species a re
know n .
The operc u l u m o f the slit shells i s
t h i n , corneo u s , a n d brown a n d h a s
many who r l s .

This relatively small

operculum i s attached
to the foot .

Emperor's S l i t S h e l l

3-S"

Pleurotomaria hirasei P i l sbry

Honshu I s . , J apan
This i s the commonest slit shel l
known . It l ives at a depth of 300 feet.

Ada n son's S l i t S h e l l S-6"

P. adansonianus C rosse & Fi scher
W. Indies; deep water; rare

Beyrich's S l i t S h e l l 4"
P. beyrichi H i lgendorf!
E . Asia; deep water; rare

SLIT S H E LLS

23

she l l s (Ha l i otidae) resem ble a va lve of a l a rge

clam , except for the spiral whorl . The ani m a l has a l a rge,
flat and muscu lar foot by which it holds fast to rocks . Sea
water is d rawn in under the edges of the she l l ; it passes
'
over the g i l l s , and leaves through the natural holes. The
foot is ed i b l e and h ighly esteemed . The i ridescent she l l is
used in costume jewe l ry. Over a hundred species are
known . They are vegetarians .

ABALO N E

Red Aba lone 1 0- 1 2"

Haliotis rufescens Swa i nson

C a l ifor n i a ; a n racks below l aw tide ""''ICN"'>F!J-"':'1'.

Cammon

24

ABALO N E S

P i n k Aba lone

5-7"

Haliotis corrugate G r a y

5"
Haliotis cracherodi leach
C a l iforn i a to Mex ico
Abundant
B l a c k Abalone

Cal iforn ia; common

Beaut i ful Aba l o n e 1 - 1 '/2'

H. pulcherrima Gmelin
Central Pacific; uncommon

Mi d a s Aba l o n e

Don key's E a r Aba l o n e

Haliotis asinina Linne
S . W. Pacific; abundant

3 -4"

4"

Haliotis midae Linne

South Africa; uncommon

..

A B A LO N E S

25

(Fi ssure l l idae) are na med for a s m a l l

hole at the top of the cap-sha ped shell, which serves for
excretion . Severa l hundred species are a l l vegetarians
living i n sha l l ow, warm water. The s i ngle eggs are coated
with a gelatinous sheath . The largest comes from California .

K E Y H O LE L I M P E T S

Ma x i m u m Keyhole L i m pet
Fissurella maxima Sowerby
Chile ( i ntertidal); common

G i a n t Keyhole Li mpet

4-5"

Megathura crenulata Sowerby

Cal ifornia ( i ntertidal); common

Ba rbados Keyhole Lim pet

Fissurella barbadensis Gmelin

Florida and W. Ind ies

Abundant on shore rocks

Roman S h i e l d L i m pet (Scutus) from Austra lia has no hole

but i s related to the keyhole l i m pets. The shell i s 2 inches long.
Common on intertidal rocks.

26

K E Y H O L E L I M P ETS

3"

1"

(Acmaeidae) live on the rocky

shores of all temperate seas . They have a
remarkably strong foot . A few species attach
to seaweeds . All 400 species are vegetarian .
T R U E LIMPETS

Sweet L i m pet 1 "

A. saccharine L i nne
Indo-Pacific; common

U nsta ble l i m pet

A. instabilis Gould

1"

Cal ifornia; on seaweed

At l a n t i c Plate l i m pet 1 "

Acmaea testudinalis Muller
New E ngland rocks; common

S p i ked l i m pet

3"

Patella longicosta lamarck

South Africa

T R U E L I M P E TS

27

(Trochidae) are coni cal. They have a pe' arly

i nteri or and a thin , horny operculum with many whorls .
Over a thousand species are found mai nly in temperate
and tropical waters. Largest and most useful is the Com
merical Trochus, from which shirt buttons are made. Some
larger spec ies are eaten. A Trochus takes six years to reach
adult si ze-5 inches. Most top shells are vegetarians.

TO P S H E LLS

Knobbed Top 4"

Trochus dentotus Forskal
East Africa; common

G i a n t Button Top

1"
Umbonium gigonteum Lesson

Japan; muddy boys; a bundant

lined Top

2"

Trochus lineatus Lamarck

Australia; common in shallow water

28

TO P S H E L LS

Strawberry Top 1 "

C/oncu/us puniceus P hilippi
I ndian Ocean; common

I N DO-PAC I F I C TO P S H E LLS vary greatly in form and

color. The button tops (Umbonium) , mud-dwellers from
Japan and Southeast Asia, are unusually flattened .
young

Pyra m i d Top

5"

Tectus pyramis Born

Macu l a ted Top 2"

Troc hus maculatus Linne
A very com mon spec ies
found under rocks near shore .

Born's Ora n g e Top %"

Chlorostoma paradoum
Born

Commerc i a l Trochus
Troc h u s niloticus Linne

5"

operc u l u m

TO P S H E L LS

29

total several dozen species ,

rarest bei ng the iridescent Gaza. The West Indian Top is
used in c howder. Queen Tegula is a collector's item i n
California. N orris' Top Shell is relatively common i n shal
l ow water. Its opercu l um bears tiny bristles .

AME R I C A N TO P S H E LLS

S u perb Gaza

2"

Gaza superba D o l l

G u l f of Mexico; deep water

Norris' Top Shell

2"

Norrisia norrisi Sowerby

California; near shore

West I n d i a n Top 3"

Cittarium pica Linne
W. Indies; seashore

30

TO P S H E LLS

CALL I O S TOMA TO P S H E LLS are the q ueens of the fam ily.

All are lightweight shells with deli cate beading and bright
colors. Most are cold-water inhabitants found among deep
water beds of algae. Many are considered collector's
items. Eggs are i n gelatinous ribbons.
C u n n i ng h a m's Top . This i s one of
a dozen large, stunning species
found i n New Zealand. Maurea
cunninghami G. and P. , 3"

Mon i l e Top

1"
Calliasfama manile Reeve

N . W. Australia; common
near shore on sponge

H a l i a rchus Top

2"

Ca//iasfama h aliarchus Melv i l l

J apan ; d e e p water

Chocolate-Lined Top

1"
Calliasfoma javanicum lamarck

S . Fla. and Caribbean

CALLI O STOMAS

31

(Turb i n idae) , about 500 spec ies, pos

sess a hard, limy operculum . The largest member of the
family is the Green Turban . Its white operculum may weigh
up to one pou nd . Buttons are made from the shel l s .

T U R BA N S H E L LS

Green Tu rban 8 "

Turb o marmorotus L.
E. Indies-Australia

Ches t n u t Tu rba n 1 11.''

Turb o castanea Gmelin
Florido-W. Indies

outer side

Ta pestry Turban is a herbivorous spec ies of

South Pacific coral reefs. The shell has a vari
able and colorful pattern . Its operculum i s the
famous blue-green "cot's eye . " Turbo petho
lotus Linne, 3"

32

T U R BA N S H E L LS

P H EASANT AND STA R S H E LLS are turbans. There are

about 40 species. The Pheasant Shells have several "foot
feelers." Below is the largest, the Pheasant Shell, Phasi
anella australis Gmelin (3 in.) ftom southern Australia.
P heasant Shell
foot filaments

operculum of
Pheasant Shell
i s white and
shelly

Long-spined Star 2"

Astraea phoebia Reding
F l orida-Cari bbean
...

Rotary Star

2"

Astraea rotularia

lamarck
Austral i a

Tri u m p h a n t Star

3-4"

Guildfordia triumphans P h i l .

East Asia; especi a l l y common

i n Japan i n deep water

PH EASANT A N D

STA R S H E LLS

33

COMMON INDO-PACIFIC TURBANS

Of the several dozen turbans from the tropical Western
Pacific, these are the commonest . N ote the characteristic
shape of the o perc u l um in each species .

outer side
operculum

i nner side
Ho rned Tu rban 3 "
Turbo cornutus Lig htfoot
Southern Japan; common near shore

Go l d - mouthed Tu rba n
Turbo chrysostomus L i n n e
C o m m o n on coral reefs

Dwarf Tu rba n 1 1/2' Silver-mouthed Tu rban

T. bruneus Red ing
Turbo argyrostomus L i nne

34

TU RBANS

3"

3"

Setose Tu rba n 3"

T. setosus Gme l i n

Syd ney Tu rban 3'12" Turbo tor

South Austra l i a ;
c o m m o n i n s h a l l o w water; note the
pecu l iar, white operc u l u m .
quatus Gmel i n .

South Afri can Tu rban 3" Turbo

sarmaticus Linne. South Africa . This
shell i s pearly white and red when
polished.

Two forms of the Delph i n u l a Sna i l

Channel led Tu rban from the West

Indies is rarest in the Americas.
Turbo canaliculatus Herm . , 3"

Delph i n u l a S n q i l from the I ndo

Pacific reefs is very variable and
has a brown , horny operc u l u m .
Angaria delphinus L i n n e , 2"

....

T U R BA N S A N D D E LP H I N U LAS

35

N E R ITE S N A I LS (Neritidae) are of a family with varied

habitats: shallow water, rocky shores, springs, rivers,
swamps and even in trees. The Emerald Nerite lives on
eelgrass near coral reefs. The shelly operculum bears a
small projecting arm for muscular attachment. Nerites are
vegetarians living in large colonies. Several hundred spe
cies are known.

Pol ita N e rite 1 "

Nerita polita Linne

inner side

outer side

Indo-Pacific; common

living Nerite

B l eed i n g Tooth

Nerita peloronta l .

egg capsules on rocks

2"

S . Florida-Caribbean

36

NERITES

Ornate Nerite 2"

Nerita ornata Sby.
Panama ( Pacific)

Emerald Nerite

Smaragdia viridis

l.

F lorida-Caribbean

1/3'

P E R I W I N K L E S (Littori n idae) are found on rocky shores of

most parts of the world. Their small s i ze and drab colors
protect them from predators. The microscopic eggs laid i n
the water resemble min iature "flying saucers." Eggs of
some species hatch i n side oviduct.
side view
of a n i m a l

Common E u ropea n Periwi n k l e .

Once l i m i ted to E urope a n d Con
ado, this rock-dwe l l er has spread
south to Delaware i n the last 200
years. Shell s hove been found i n
pre h i storic I n d i a n sites. Littorina
/ittoreo Linne, 1 "

Pagoda Peri w i n k l e 2"

Tectorius pogodus Linne
I ndo-Pacific; common on rocks
wel l a bove h i g h-tide l i ne

A u g e r Tu rrite l l o 4"
Turrite//o terebra L i n ne
I ndo-Pacific; common

(Turr i tell idae) , about 50 spec ies, a re

tropical relatives of the periwinkles . The shel l s , found i n
shallow, muddy bottoms , are l o n g and pointed. T h e cor
neous opercu l um has few whorls.

T U R R I T E L L A S N A I LS

PERIWIN KLES

37

(Architecton i cidae) resemble a wi nding stair

case. All 40 species are tropical. A few deep-sea species
are collector's items. Operculum like horny p i ll.
S U N D I ALS

Common Atla n t i c S u n d i a l

Architectonica nobilis Reding

2"

Caro l i nas to West Indies; common i n sand

Va riegated S u n d i a l %"
Heliacus variegatus Gmelin
I ndo- Pacific
Florida Wo rm Shell

4"

Vermiculoria knorri Deshoyes

Caroli nas to Mexico

WO RMS H E LLS (Turritel lidae) resemble marine worms, but

are true snails. The early whorls resemble turritella shells ,
but later ones detach and grow haphazardly.
38

S U N D I A LS A N D WO RM S H E L LS

CE RITHS

Sowe rby's Cerith

4"

Pseudovertagus phylarchus l reda l e

P h i l i ppines; uncommon

S u l cate Cerith

2"

Terebra/ia sulcata Born

Indo-Pacific; swamps

R a d u l a Cerith

2"

Tympanotonus radula

W. African swamps

l.
"'-

(Cerith i idae) , about 300 species, are abundant

i n the i n tertidal zone of tropic shores . Some live i n man
grove swamps , others at sea . The eggs are i n jelly masses.
CERITHS

CERITHS

39

{ E pitoni idae) , a curious family mai nly al

abaster-white, are capable of excreting a purple dye.
Most are found with sea anemones and Fungia corals .
Rice-paste counterfeits of the Precious Wentletrap were
once sold. About 200 known species, some rare.

W E N T L E T RAPS

Common We ntletrop
Epitonium clothrus Linne
E u rope; common

Noble We nt letrop

Sthenorytis pemobilis

2"

F i scher & Bernardi

Florida-Cari bbean; rare

Prec i o u s We ntl etrop

Epitonium seafare Linne

Eastern Asia; uncommon

40

W E N TLETRAPS

2"

Mag n ificent We ntl etrop

Amaea magnifica Sowerby
Japan; rare

4"

(Crepidulid ae) possess a pe

culiar plate located inside the mai n shell . These limpetli ke
snails live in shallow water. The males are much smaller,
but may change their sex and grow to a larger si ze. The
slipper shells may grow on top of each other or on rock s .
C U P A N D S L I P P E R S H E LLS

Com m o n A t l a n t i c S l i pper She l l

Crepidula fornicofo Linne

2"

Canada to Texas; E u rope; very common

This, l i ke ather s l i pper shells, has no opercu l u m .

Imbri cate C u p-and-Sa ucer

Crucibulum scutellatum Woad

West Mexico

2"

Rayed Peru v i a n Hat 2"

Trochita trochiformis Born
Peru and C h i l e

THE TRUE CONCHS

Eighty world species of Strombidae live i n warm waters.

Note the "notch" on the l ower outer l i p . The foot is narrow
and muscular with a sharp, sickle-shaped opercu l um .

Colorful eyes on spec i a l sta lks ore

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c for each spec i e s .
Above ore four examples.

Pink Conch 8 - 1 2" Strombus

gigas Linne. Southern Florida-West
Indies. This Iorge C a r i bbean conch
shell has long been a favorite or
nament. Conch chowder a nd steak
come from this species, and its shell
i s used as a trumpet. The young
"rollers" do not hove the fla r i n g ,
thick l i p o f the 12- i n . adul t s . Sem i
prec ious p i n k pear l s hove been
found i n side the she l l s . The animal
feeds on delicate algae. Also called
the Queen Conch.

Florida F i g h t i n g Conch

Strombus alotus G m e l i n

2-3"

F lorida; c o m m o n n e a r shore

42

CONCHS

West In d i a n F i g h t i n g Conch 2-3"

Strombus pugilis L i n ne
Caribbean ; common near shore

Goliath Conch

15"
Strombus goliath Schroter

Bra z i l ; ra re

Rooster Conch

Strombus gallus

5"

Linne
Caribbean

/
Milk Conch

4-7"

S. costatus Gmelin

Cari bbean

Two of these Atlantic conchs are

collector's items. Rarest i s the
Goliath Conch from B ra z i l , largest
Strom bus in the world. The Rooster
Conch of the C a r i bbean reg ion is
fa i r l y rare. Adu lts vary i n size; the
male i s smaller. I n the Milk Conch,
the s i ze and number of knobs is
variable, and some shells may be
orange, yel l ow, or whitish . 1 V2'
dwarfs of the Hawk-Wing occur i n
Lake Wor t h , F l orida .

Hawk-Wi n g Conch
2-4"
S . roninus Gmelin
Cari bbean

43

COMMON INDO-PACIF IC CONCHS (1-3")

B u b b l e Conch

Stromb u s bullo Reding

Hu mped Conch
l.

S. gibberulus

D i a n a Conch

S. aurisdianae

Dog Conch

l.

S . conarium

Mutable Conch
S. mutabilis Swa i nson

l.

Li t t l e Bea r Conch
l.

Strombus urceus

white mouth

S i l ver Conch

S. lentiginosus Linne

B l ood-Mouth Conch

S. luhuanus Linne

44

CONCHS

UNUSUAL CONCHS
B u l l Conch is a rare spec ies from
the coral reefs in the Centra l Pa
cific. Shell heavy with twa un ique
spines o n outer lip. 4". Strambus
taurus Reeve . Found at depths af
20 Ia 50 feel .

Lac i n iated Conch is an uncom

mon and attractive W. Pacific shell
noted for the beautiful purple in
terior of its mouth. 4". Strombus
sinuatus L ightfoot

L i t t l e Frog Conch

4"

Strombus latus G m e l i n

West African and C a p e Verde I s .

Peru via n C o n c h

Strombus peruvianus Swa i n son

Pacific side of
Central America

CONCHS

45

S P I D E R C O N C H S (Strombidae) are closely related to the

true conchs. The ten known species of spider conchs are
l imited to the tropical waters of the I ndo-Pacific region. A
fossi l species is found in Hawaii. A l l are vegetarians and
lay spaghetti -li ke egg masses.

6"

C h i ragra S p i d e r ....
Conch 7"
Lambis chiragra L .
S . W . Pacific; common

..

Violet Spider Conch

L. vialacea Swa i nsan
Mauritius; rare

46

SPIDER CONCHS

3-4"

Scorp ion Co nch

L . scorpius Linne
Uncommon

<IIIII

Co m m o n Spider Conch
Lambis lambis Linne
Indo-Pacific; abundant

Orange Spider Conch

3-4"
L. crocota link

U ncommon

4"

Gi a n t Spider Co nch 1 2"

Lombis truncate lightfoot
Indian Ocean; common

M i l l i ped Spider Co nch

L. millepede Linne

S . W. Pacifi c ; common

47

CARRIER AND TIBIA S HELLS

CAR R I E R SHELLS i n c l ude the J apa nese Carrier

Shell ( 1) Xenophora pa//idula Reeve , 4", which
attaches dead shells to i tself. (2) The Sunburst
Carrier, Ste//aria so/oris Linne, 3", from the West
ern Pacific, develops its own limy projections. The
animals are very active. Both species are i n the
fam i l y Xenophoridae.

3.

48

TIBIA SHELLS, long and slender, are from the

P h i l i ppines. (3) Spindle Tibia, Tibia fusus l.,
reaches 12 i n . (4) Dwarf T i bia, Varicospira can
cel/ala l., is 1 i n . A l l are collector's items, and
belong to the fa m i l y Strombida e .

CA R R I E R A N D T I BIA S H E LLS

MOON S NAILS (Naticidae)

tentacle
shell

Shell of moon snoil is en

veloped by large gray fool.

MO O N S N A I L S a r e f o u n d o n
sandy flats i n nearly a l l parts of
the world. They spend most of their
time digging through the sand i n
search o f c l a m s a n d smaller snai l s .
They d r i l l a n e a t h o l e through the
shell of their prey and rasp out the

mea t . Their foot i s large and cov

ers much of the shell when i t i s
extended . Egg-masses are laid i n
collar-shaped cases made with fine
sand. These are often found at low
tide. The young hatch out i n 2 or 3
weeks.

Operc u l u m , or trapdoor, which

sea l s the mouth of Polinices and
Lunotio moon snails i s thin and
horny. Some are brown ; others a re
red .

Northern Moo n S n a i l

Lunatio heros Say

Canada to Virginia

4"

At l a n t i c S h a rk Eye
P. duplicatus Say
Mas s . to Texas

2"

Operculum of moon snails i n the genus

Natica i s hard and shel l - l i ke. Most mem
bers of this genus (over 100 species) live i n
sandy tropical b o y s ; s o m e l ive i n the Arc
tic. A. Attachment side. B . Outer side.

Ch i n a Moon 1 "
Natica onca Reding
Indo-Pacific; a moderately
common species found in
sand below low tide

Macul ated Moon

N. tigrina Reding
Indo-Pacific

Zebra Moon
N. undulata
Reding
I ndo- Pacific

1"

Stellate Moo n 2-3"

N. stellata Chenu
Japan

1"

Co lorful At l a n t i c Moon
N. canrena Linne
florida -Cari bbean 1-2"

50

Butte rfl y Moon 1 '/2'

N. alapapilionis Reding
Indo- Pacifi c ; a l so found
i n sand but uncommon

N ATICA S N A I L S

Tiger Cowrie with its fleshy mantle

pa rtly covering its shell

When disturbed, its mantle con

tracts, revea l i n g the g l ossy she l l .

COW R I E S , with glossy, c h i na- l i ke shel l s , attracted primi

tive peoples who used them as ornaments, money and as
religious symbols . Today, cowries rank high with shell
collectors . Most of the 190 or so species are relatively
common in tropical seas . A few are very rare . The hard
shell and attractive colors are produced by the enveloping
fleshy mantle . Cowries are active at night, feedi ng on
hydro ids and similar small mari ne creatures .

C OW R I E S

51

AMERICAN COWRIES
American tropica l waters hove less
than a dozen species of cowries.
Four common Atlantic species are
found i n F l orida, and the uncom
mon Mouse Cowri e i s l i m i ted to the
l ower Caribbean.

Atl a n t i c Gray
Cowrie 1 "

Cypraea cinerea

Gme l i n
F lorida-Cari bbean

Atl a n t i c Ye llow Cowrie 1 "

C . spurca aciculari's Gmelin
F l orida-Caribbean

C hestnut Cowrie

Measled Cowrie 3"

Cypraea zebra Linne
F lorida-Caribbean

Pa n a m a Cowrie

Cypraea spadicea

Swa i nson
Southern C a l iforn ia

2"

Cypraea cervinetta Kiener

Gulf of Panama

52

C OW R I E S

2"

Mouse Cowrie 2"

Cypraea mus Linne
Venezuela

At l a n t i c Deer Cowrie
Cypraea cervus L i nne
F lorida-Cuba-Yucatan

4"

AF RICAN COWRIES
South African waters are the home
of seven cowries; six of them are
relatively common. Fulton's Cow
rie is one of the world's ra rest,
found i n the stomachs of the Mussel
Cracker fish which feeds on i t .

Brown-Toothed Cowrie 1 1/2'

Cypraea angustata Gmelin

Cape C o w r i e

1"
Cypraea capensis Gray

Rat Cowrie 3"

Cypraea stercoraria Linne

Toothless Cowrie

1"
Cypraea edentula Gray

Fu lton's Cowrie 2"

Cypraea fultoni Sower by

West Afr ica

C OW R I E S

53

PANAMA ( PACIFIC) COWRIES

L i t t l e Ara b i a n
Cowrie 3/4"

C ypraea arabicula

Black-spotted Cowrie
1 - 1 '/,"
C. nigropunctata Gray
Galapagos I s .

Robe rts' C o w r i e

C . robertsi H ida lgo

1"

Lamarck

MEDITERRANEAN COWRIES

Pea r Cowrie

Agate Cowrie
C . achatidea

Sower by

Lurid Cowrie

1 '/2'

C . /urida L i n ne

Zoned Cowrie 1 112"

C . zonaria Gmel i n
West Africa

54

C OW R I E S

1"

C . pyrum Gmelin

1"

Spurca Cowrie 3/4'

C . spurca spurca Linne

AUS TRALIAN COWRIES

Fri e n d 's Cowrie 3"

Cypraea friendii Gray

Thersite Cowrie 3"

C. thersites Gasko i n

Armen i a n Cowrie

4"

Cypraea armeniaco Verco

Western Austra l i a ; deep

water; rare

U m b i l icate Cowrie 4 "

C . hesitata l redo le
Deep water; New South Wa les

Dec i p i e n s Cowrie 2"

Cypraea decipiens E. A. Smith

..

Albino form of the

U m b i l icate Cowrie 4"
C. hesitata form alba Cox

C OW R I E S

55

COMMON INDO-PACIF IC COWRIES (2"

Pacific Deer Cowrie

C. vitellus L i n ne

or

less)

C o l o ba Cowrie
C . coloba Melvill
I ndian Ocean

2"

1"

Tahi t i a n Go ld-ringer
C . obvelata lamarck
Society Islands

Chi nese Cowrie 1 1/2'

C . chinensis Gmel i n

Caurica Cowrie

C . caurica Linne

Go ld-ringer 1/2- 1 "

C . annulus Linne
Very common

lyn x Cowrie
C. lynx Linne

1 - 2"

Camel Cowrie 2"

C. camelopardalis Perry
Red Sea ; uncommon

56

C OW R I E S

1 V2 "

COMMON INDO-PACIF IC COWRIES (2-4")

Tiger Cowrie

3"

Panther Cowrie ( Red Sea)

C. pantherina Lig htfoot

3"

Cypraea tigris Linne

Ara b i a n Cowrie
C. arabica Linne

2"

Histrio Cowrie 2 '/,"

C . histrio G m e l i n

E g l a n t i n e Cowrie
C . eglantine Duclos

Eyed Cowrie

4"

2"

Cypraea argus Linne

U ncommon

Ret i c u l ated C o w r i e 3 "

C . maculifera Schi lder

Mo l e Cowrie

3"

Cypraea talpa Linne

C OW R I E S

57

COMMON IND O-PACIF IC COWRIES

Ve ntricu late Cowrie

C. ventriculus Lamarck
Isa b e l l e Cowrie

C. isabella Linne

Carn e l i a n Cowrie

C. carneola L i nne

2"

To rtoise Cowrie 4"

C . festudinaria Linne
Oce l l ate Cowrie
C. ocellata Linne
Indian Ocean only

Schi l d e r's Cowrie

C. schilderorum

lredale

58

C OW R I E S

1"
Grooved-toothed

1 '/,"
Hu mp-back Cowrie 3"
C . mouritiana Linne
Commonest on t h i s page

1"

COMMON INDO-PACIF IC COWRIES (1-2")

S n a ke-head Cowrie

C. caputserpentis l .

Ver y common

Thrush Cowrie
C . furdus lamarck
Indian Ocean

E roded Cowrie

Cypraea eros a

Linne

la ma rck's Cowrie

C. lamarcki Gray

D ragon-head Cowrie

C . caputdracanis Me lvill

E a ster Island; uncommon

Boivi n's Cowrie

C. boivini K i ener

Onyx Cowrie

C. onyx Linne

M i l i o ri s Cowrie
C . miliaris Gmelin

Wo n d e r i n g Cowrie
Cypraea erranes l.

C OW R I E S

59

UNCOMMON INDO-PACIF IC COWRIES

The cowries on these two pages occur i n various parts of

the I ndo-Pacifi c . Most are uncommo n . Most sought after
are the Map, Cox's and Stolid Cowries .
Dawn Cowrie

3/4'

Porous Cowrie
c. paroria Linne
South Pacific

Cyproea diluculum
Reeve

East Africa

Ta pering Cowrie 1 "

Cypraea teres Linne

Cox's Cowrie
C. coxeni Cox

Cyli ndrical Cowrie

C. cylindrica Born

1"

Wa lker's Cowrie

C. walkeri Sowerby

S i e ve Cowrie

C. cribroria L i nne

1"

Z i g -Zag Cowrie

C. ziczoc L.

U ncommon

60

C OW R I E S

3/4'

3/4'

Map Cowrie

4"

Cypraea mappa l .

A popu lar collector's i tem

Honey Cowrie

1"

Sto l i d Cowrie

C . he/vola Linne

1"

C . stolida Linne

Moderately common

Ase l l u s Cowrie
C. asellus Linne

Punctate Cowrie
113"

C. punctata l .

Jester Cowrie 1 - 1 '12"

C. scurro Gmel i n
....
U ncommon; two views

N ucleus Cowrie
C. nucleus Linne

%"

C h i ck-Pea Cowrie

C. cicerculo Linne ....

Money Cowrie

1"

C . m o neta Linne

Very common

Kitten Cowrie

C . felina Gmelin

C OW R I E S

61

'/,"

SOME RARE COWRIE S

Seldom seen in amateur collec
tions, but greatly sought after, are
several rare cowries, some worth
severa l hundreds of dollars.

The Golden Cowrie i s not ex

ceed i ngly rare, but i s a choice col
lector's item from Melanesi a .
Cypraea aurantium Gmel i n , 4"

Leucodon Cowrie

3"

Cypraea leucodon Broderip

P h i l i ppines; very rare

Broderi p's Cowri e

3"

Cypraea broderipii Sowerby

Indian Ocea n ; very rare

THE HELMET SHELLS

The large, massive helmet shells (Cassidae) are found in

tropical waters around the world . They live in shallow
water on sandy bottoms and feed ma i n l y on sea urch i n s .
The larger ones are used i n making shell cameo s .

Tesse llate He l m e t 6-9"

Cassis fessellata Gmelin
West Africa ....
/
U ncommon

K i n g He l met

7"

Cassis tuberosa L i n ne

Cari bbean

Ho rned He l met

Cassis co rn uta

Linne
Indo-Pacific

63

BON N ET S HELLS

Scotch Bon net 3"

Pha lium gronu/otum Born
S . E . U . S . -Coribbean

Smooth Scotch Bonnet

3"

Phalium granulatum
form cicatricosum Gmelin

F l o rida-Caribbean

Striped Bonnet 3"

Phalium strigatum Gmelin

Gray Bonnet

I ndo-Pacific

Phalium glaucum Linne

I ndo-Pacific; uncommon

C ha n n e l led Bon net 2"

P. cana/icu/atum Brugui ere
Indo-Pacifi c

64

BO N N E T S H E LLS

Areola Bonnet 2"

Phalium areola l.
Indo-Pacific

J a p a n ese Bonnet 3"

P. bisulcatum Schubert
and Wagner
Japan

Vi bex Bonnet of the

I n d o - P a c i fi c is v e r y
variable in shape, some
s p e c i m e n s a r e q u i te
s m o o t h ( r i g h t fig . ) ,
others with knobs on the
s h o u l d e r ( l ef t fi g . ) .
Casmaria

erinaceus

Linne, 1-2"

l re d a l e's Bonnet

Pha lium labiatum P e rry

South Africa

Adult Red Helmets have no operculum . The animal is or

ange-red. Cameos are made from the large Bull Mouth
Helmet of the I ndian Ocean which lives i n shallow water.
Bull Mouth He l met

6"

Cypraecassis rufa L . ; Indian Oc e an

Contracted Cowrie -helmet 3"

C. coarctata Sowerby; Panama

3"

HELMET S HELLS

Prickly He l m e t

Tusca n He l met
G. rugosa L i nne
Med i terranean

3"

Goleodeo echinophoro l .
Med iterranean

At l a n t i c Woodlouse
Morum oniscus Linne
Caribbean ; common

1"

Roya l Bonnet 2"

Sconsio striata lamarck
Cari bbean ; deep water

66

3"

Ca ncellate Moru m 1 1/2'

Marum cancellotum Sowerby
Southeast Asia

E x q u i s ite Moru m
Morum exquisitum
Adorns & Reeve
P h i l i pp i nes; rare

1 1/2'

THE F ROG SHELLS

The tropical frog shells (Bursidae) are represented by sev

eral genera and about 60 species , ranging i n s i ze from V2"
to 10". large ones were once used for oil lamps .

Gra n u lated Frog S h e l l 2"

B ursa granularis Reding
Cari bbean and Indo-Pacific
A common snail found on
reefs under rocks

W i nged Frog S h e l l
B iplex perca Perry
Southeast Asia

Gi a n t Frog Shell 5-1 0"

B ursa bubo l. ; I ndo- Pacific
Moderately common near
coral reefs ....

3"

THE TRITON TRUMPETS

There are less than a dozen spec ies of these large triton
trumpets. Most occur i n tropical waters near coral reefs.
By cutting off the end of the spire or making a round hole
in the side, natives use the large spec ies as trumpets . All
members of the family Cymati idae have horny opercula.
The Caribbean and the Indo-Pacific triton trum
pets are very closely related. The former has th i n,
raised teeth on the i n ner lip; the latter has wider,
flattened teeth, as shown below.
Pacific Tri ton

8- 1 5"

Atlantic Triton

8-1 1 "

Choronio voriegoto Lamarck

Pust u l ed Triton

5"

....

Choronio pustuloto L a m .
South Africa

68

THE HAIRY TRITONS

Most of the hundred species of hairy tritons (family Cyma

tiidae) are characteri zed by a periostracum of "hai rs"
coveri ng the outside of the shel l . The fam i l y is mai n l y
tropical . Hairy tritons are carnivoro u s . They lay n umerous
horny egg capsules on rocks .
Common Ha i r y Triton

Cymotium pileare Linne

3-4"

Cari bbean and Indo-Pacifi c

Common on c o r a l reefs

Loto r i u m Triton

5"

Cymotium lotorium Linne

Indo-Pacific; moderately
common on reefs

Ang u l a r Triton

6"

Cymotium femorale

Linne

F l a . -Caribbean
Common o n grass flats

H A I R Y T R I TO N S

69

THE T UN AND F IG SH ELLS

These are large, thin-shelled, rounded shells (family Ton

nidae), mostly tropical. The animal is usually larger than
the shell itself. Adults do not have an flperculum but may
have a thin, flaky periostracum. The snout contains acid.

G i a n t Tu n

5-7"

Tonna galea Linne

Worldwide; tropical

At l a n t i c Fig S h e l l 4"
Ficus communis Rii d ing
S . E. U n i ted States
No operc u l u m

70

T U N S AND F I G S

Gri n n i n g Tu n

4-7"

Malea ringens Swa i n son

Panama ( Pacific side) T

THE MURE X SHE LLS

This is a major marine fam i l y (Muricidae) which contai ns a

large number of genera and a vast array of species . They
are worldwide in distri bution , but are found mai n l y i n
tropical waters . long spi nes and fri l l s c haracter i ze thi s
attractive gro u p . The typical Murex gen us shown on t h i s
page contai ns about 2 0 species . T h e opercu l um i s horny.
Troschel's M u rex

5 - 7"

Murex troscheli Lischke

Southeast Asia and Japan

T
Ve n u s Comb M u rex

Murex pecten L i g htfoot

I ndo-Pacific

4-6"

M U R E X S H E LLS

71

(below) are large, showy s pecies living

colonially on sandy mud flats on the Pacific side of Central
Ameri ca. Many other smaller, attractive species are known
in this area. All murex snai l s feed on other mol l usks,
espec ial l y bivalves. Eggs are laid i n c l u sters of capsu l es.

M U R E X S N A I LS

R a d i x M u rex

4"

Murex radix Gmel i n

Ca bbage M u rex

5"

Murex brassica Lamarck

72

M U R EX S H E LLS

P i n k-mouthed Mu rex

4"

Murex erythrostomus Swa i n son

Reg a l M u rex

4"

Murex regius Wood

Earliest use of murex snails as a source

of dye goes back to the days of the
Phoen icians. Later, Greeks and Romans
made use of the valuable co loring material. The murex
snai l s secrete a yellowish fl u id which, when boi led and
treated, makes a permanent purple dye. Wool and cotton
dyed with this so-called Royal Tyrian P urple brought very
h igh pri ces. During Roman times only Senators and Emper
ors were allowed to wear purple cloth. After the fall of the
Roman Empire the dye was u sed by the Christian Church
and gave rise to the offical colors of Cardi nals. Many new
towns were settled in the western Mediterranean by Phoe
nicians seeki ng fresh beds of the dye-produc i ng murex
shel l s.
Dye M u rex 3 "
Murex brandaris
B o i l i ng
purple dye

Linne
Med iterranean

M U R E X S H E LLS

73

of shal low water i n c l ude

the common species i l l ustrated bel ow. The E ndive and
Adustus are from coral reefs; Sni pe's B i l l Murex is from
deeper water and occurs in pairs .

I N D O - PAC I F I C M U R E X S H E LLS

S n i pe's B i l l

4"

Murex haustellum Linne

Adustus M u rex 2"

Murex brunneus Link

Ram ose M u rex

74

M U R E X S H E L LS

8- 1 2"

SOME RARE
M UREX SHELLS

C l a v u s M u re x , r a r e , m a y
sometimes have a purple
mouth. I t i s more often found
i n Japan, the P h i l i ppi nes and
East Africa . Murex elongafus
lightfoot, 2 - 3 V2'
The Z a m bo M u rex (right) is
found on rocks in the central
P h i l i p p i nes at depths of 1 0 ft.
M. zamboi Burch & Burch, 2"
The Scorp ion M u rex ( l ower
left) may be black, brown or
wh i t i s h . As i t grows, old spines
a re d issolved by mantle. Mu
rex scorpio Linne, 1 - 2"

Rose-bra n c h Murex ( l ower

right) is popular collector's item
from southeast Asi a . Murex
palmarosae lamarc k , 3-4"

M U R E X S H E LLS

75

EAST E R N AM E R I CA N M U R E X S H E LLS i nclude the com

mon species illustrated below. All live in shallow water,
usually on muddy bottoms . All feed on small clams. The
Giant Eastern Murex also lives i n the Gulf of Mexico . The
Apple Murex and lace Murex are abundant on the west
coast of Florida, and are commercially collected.

G i a n t E a stern Mu rex

5"

Murex fulvescens Sowerby

Carolinas to Texas

76

LAT I AX I S S H E LLS (Corallioph ilidae) are abundant and

varied in the waters around Japan, which are famous for
these species. All are noted for their alabaster white shells
and delicate sculpturing. Mawe's Latiaxis, discovered in
the early 19th century, was once a great rarity. N ow it is
more common, and P ilsbry's Latiaxis is considered the top
species for collectors . Less attractive species occur in the
Cari bbean and Eastern Pacific.
Eugenio's Loti o x i s

2"

Latiaxis eugeniae Ber n .

Japan; deep water

Armored Lotioxis

Latiaxis armatus Sby.

Japan; deep water.

1 " J a pan Lotio xis

2"

La tiaxis japonicus D u n ker

Japan; deep water

Mawe's Lat i a x i s 2 1/2"

Latiaxis mawae G. & P.
Japan; deep water
Pilsbry's Lot i o x i s 1 1/2"
Latiaxis pilsbryi H i rase
Japan; deep water

,, }

/'

LATIAXIS

77

R O C K S H E LL S of many species (family Thaididae) live i n

large colonies along rocky shores , where they feed on
mussels, oysters and barnacles. Many secrete a purple
dye, used by Central American Indians to color cotton.
The Barnacle Rock Shell resembles an abalone but has no
holes; it i s fished commerc ially for food.

W. I n d i a n Pu rpura
Purpura potu/a Linne
Florida-Caribbean

3"

G i rd l ed Rock Shell
Thais cinguloto Linne
Cope of Good Hope

78

Eye of J udas 3"

Purpura plonospira
lamarck
Galapagos Islands;
Central America

1 '/, ''

E . I n d i a n Purpura 3"
Purpura persico Linne
East Indies

Barnacle Rock S h e l l 4"

Concholepas concholepas Bruguiere
Peru and C h i l e

P U R P U RA R O C K S H E LLS

D R U P E S N A I LS are smal l , colorfu l thaids found only on

the coral-rock shores of the I ndo- Pacific area . The Fri l led
Dogwinkle, common along the northwest shores of N orth
America, has relatives in other cool -water areas such as
New E ngland and northern E urope . All members of t h i s
family lay urn- l i ke egg capsules .

Prickly Drupe
Drupo ricinus

1"

Finger Drupe

Purple Drupe

Linne

Drupo morum

1"

D. grossulorio

1"

Roding

Roding

Fri l l e d Dog w i n k l e 1 - 5" Nucello lomelloso Grnelin

N. W. U n i ted States; variable i n shape and color

T
Pacific Horse Chestnut
T hais hippocostoneo L.
Indo-Pacific

2"

Sert u m Rock S h e l l

Nosso serta

Bruguiere
Indo-Pacific

D R U P E S A N D D O GW I N K L E S

79

2"

I LS of the family Magilidae are

u sually c l osely assoc iated with soft and hard corals or sea
fans. Most species do not have radular teeth. The Magilus
Snail of the tropical Pacific l i ves i n brain coral. As the

coral grows , the snai l also lengthens its she l l and fills up its
early whorls with solid, shel ly material. The Papery Rapa
lives in soft, yel l ow corals of the P h i l i ppi nes, ma i ntai ning
contact with the ocean's water through a small hole in its
host. The Caribbean Coral Snai l lives i n the base of sea

sna i l s in base

Caribbean Cora l S n a i l

1"

Coralliaphila caribaea Abbott

West Indies

Mag i I u s Sn a i l

1 - 3"

Papery Rapa

Magilus antiquus Montfort

R a p a rapa L i n n e

Indo-Pacific

I ndo-Pacific; l i v e s i n s o f t caro l

early
whorls

80

3"

R A PA A N D C O RA L S N A I LS

AN IMAL WITH S H E L L R EMOV E D

Common Northern
Bucc i n u m 3"
Buccinum undatum Linne
N. Atlantic; common offshore

W H E LKS of the family Buccin idae form a large grou p of

many genera and over 400 spec ies. All have corneous
opercula and a radula with three rows of strong teeth .
Eggs are laid i n large c l umps o f egg capsu l es. Whelks feed
upon marine worms and clams. It is one of the few famil ies
to have representatives i n both arctic and tropical waters .
Arctic species of the genus Buccinum are generally drab
colored. The tropical genera are colorfu l and l i ve i n shal
l ow water.
New E n g l a n d Neptune

4"

Neptunea decemcostota Soy

Canada to Mass . ; common offshore

Neptune
egg capsules

W H E LKS

81

COLD-WATER WHELKS

The buccinids are ravenous carnivores , and the larger

species do great damage to clam beds. In Japan, they are
commercially fished for food and are used as bait. Species
like the J apelion are common in fossil beds and indicate
cold-water conditions in former geological times. A few
species of buccinids may lack an operculum. The cold
water buccinids are few in species but numerous as individ
uals, but in the tropics are colorful and varied.
H i rose's W h e l k 4"
J ape/ion hirasei P i l sbry
N o r thern Japan; a coldwater species
D i lated Whelk 6-7" ....
Penion dilatatus Q. & G .
N ew Zea land;
a cold -water species

82

W H E L KS

TROPICAL WHELKS

S p i ra l Babylon

3"

Babylonia spirata Linne

Signum Whelk

2"
Siphonalia signum Reeve
A common species in Japan;
o pest of oysters

Z e l a n d i c Babylon 3"
B . zelandica Bruguiere
Indian Ocean ; uncommon
N ote the purple ridge at
the base of the shell

S . E . Asia

Fa lse Triton

3"

Colubraria moculoso Gmelin

Indian Ocean ; a n uncommon

species found around coral reefs

Phos W h e l k

2"

Phos senticosus Linne

Indo-Pacific; commonly d redged

C h a n neled Babylon 2"

B. canaliculata Schumacher
Indian Ocean

W H E L KS

83

(Melo ngenidae) are car n i vores,

feedi ng on clams and snails. The Australian Trumpet is
the world's largest gastropod-over two feet long .
The young hatch from the egg capsule with a long,
slender spire which is usually broken off by the
ti me the an imals mature.

T H E M E LO N G E N A S

American C rown Conch 2-4"

Melongena corona Gmelin
S . E . U n i ted Stoles; common
Austra l ian Tru m pet or Baler
Syrinx aruanus Linne
N. Austra l i a

2 ft.

Cari bbean C rown Conch 4-5"

Melongena melongena Linne
West Indies; found i n sha l l ow
water; feeds on clams

young shell of
Austra l i a n Trumpet

l
I

84

BAL E R S A N D M E LO N G E N AS

( Fasciolariidae) are typical of S. E. United

States. Three spec ies i n Florida i nclude the 20- i nch
Horse Conch. Tuli ps lay thei r eggs i n large clu m ps
of parchment-like capsules. Adu l ts feed on
clams.
T U L I P S H E LLS

Banded Tu l i p

3"

Fasciolaria hunteria Perry

Carolinas to Texas; feeds on clams

Common i n shal low water

Florida H o rse Conch

20"

Pleuroploca gigantea K i ener

Carolinas to Mexico; common offshore

True Tu l i p

Fasciolaria
tulipa Linne

Carolinas to
West Indies;
common

operculum of Tu l i p

T U L I P S H E L LS

85

C l oster S p i n d l e

7"

Fusinus closter P h i l i ppi

lower Caribbean ; uncommon

D i staff S p i n d l e

Fusinus co I u s Linne

4"

Indo-Pacific

N icobar S p i n d l e

4"

F. nicobaricus Reding

Indo-Pacific

S P I N D L E S H E LLS (fam ily Fasciolariidae) of some 50 spe

cies are well known to collectors because of their long,
graceful shape. These snails live on sandy bottoms and
travel in pairs. The largest Atlantic species, the Closter
Spindle, is a collector's item.
86

S P I N D L E S H E LLS

F U LG U R W H E LKS (Melongenidae) of eastern American

waters have been abundant since Miocene ti mes, some 30
m illion years ago . Today there are six com mon species .
long chains of egg capsules are often washed ashore . The
lightning Whelk is normally "left-handed . "
a string af
egg cases

7"

Busycan carica Gmelin

Mass. ta Georg i a

C h a n n e led Whelk 6"

B . canaliculatum Linne
Mass. ta Florida

Lightning Whelk 4- 1 6"

Busycan contrarium Conrad
Carolinas to Texas

87

OLIVE S H E LLS (family Olividae) with their agate-like sheen

and attractive shape have l ong been favorites . The family
i s characteri zed by great variation i n color and markings .
The genus Oliva has no opercu l um . The mantle and foot of
the an imal partly cover the outer shel l . Over 300 species
of o l ive shel l s l ive on sandy bottoms where they feed on
smaller mo l l usks. The best time to col lect olives is at night,
at l ow tide. P h i l i ppine col lectors u se bait on a tiny hook
and l i ne .

E a r O l ive

0/ivancillaria vesica

Gme l i n
Eastern South America
Common i n sand

Te nt O l i ve

3-5"

Oliva porphyria L i nne

W. Central America
U ncommon offshore

Ta nkerv i l l e's O l i ve

3"

Ancillo tankervillei Swo i nson

Venezuela; uncommon i n sand

88

OLIVES

Orange-mouthed O l i ve 3"
Oliva sericea Riid i n g . Indo-Pacifi c . N ote calor variation
on backs. T h i s i s a very common sand-dwe l l i n g spec ies .

Purple-mouthed O l i ve
Oliva c aerulea Riid i n g
Indo-Pac ific; common

2-3"

G i b bose O l i ve 2"
Oliva gibbosa Riid i n g
I n d i a n Oceo n ; abundant

Lette red O l i v e 2 1/,"

Oliva sayana Ravenel
S. E. U n i ted States; common i n sand

OLIVES

89

VASE SHELLS

About two dozen species (fom ily Vasidae) , all tropical ,

have heavy shells with 4 to 5 spi ral ridges on the inner lip.
Most are common and found near shore, but some, like the
Lat i rus-shaped Vase , are deep-water species.
Common Atlantic Vase
Vasum muricatum Born
Florida and West Indies

4"

La ti rus-sha ped Vase

2"

V. lotiriforme Reh . & Abb.

Gulf of Mexico; rare

Ceram Vase

4-5"

V. ceramicum Linne

Indo-Pacific
A common reef species

3"

G l o be Vase 1 "
V. g lobulus l a m .
Lesser Antil les

90

VA S E S H E LLS

CH ANK SH ELLS

The very massive chank shells (Turbinellidae) are found in

only a few areas. In India and Sri lanka they are collected
by the thousands and cut into ornamental rings and ban
gles. Rare "left-handed" specimens are mounted in gold
and placed on H i ndu altars. Chanks are characterized by
a nipple-like apex and folds on the inner lip.
West I n d i a n C h a n k 1 0"
Turbinella angulata lightfoot
Bahamas, C uba and Mexico
A common sha llow-water
species in the Bahamas.
Outer s k i n flakes off.

Indian Chank

6"

Turbinella pyrum Linne

Bay of Beng a l , India

C H A N K S H E LLS

91

MITER SHELLS

The renowned Mitridae family of warm, shallow seas in

cludes nearly 600 spec ies, from 0.3 to 6 in. long . The inner
lip usually has 3 to 5 strong, curved teeth. Miters use their
long retractable snout to feed on worms and clams . They
burrow in sand but keep their si phon extended. Eggs, in
small horny capsules, a re attached to stones . The Indo
Pacific region has about 400 species of miters . Some of
the larger and more common ones are illustrated on these
two pages . Miters are usually found under rocks .
Episcopal Miter

Mitra mitro L i nne

3-5"

A common Indo-Pacifi c ,
carol -reef species

C a rd i n a l Miter

2-3"

M . cardino/is Gmelin

Indo-Pacific

"' snout

radulor
teeth

tip of snout

92

MITERS

Adusta Miter

Mitra eremitarum Reding

P i n -poi nted Miter

2"

Pont i fica l Miter

M. puncticulata lamarck

Mitra stictica l i n k

2"

Papal Miter 3 - 4 " M . papa/is L i n ne

One of the handsomest of the common
m i ters from the Indo-Pacific area

COMMON
INDO-PACIF IC
MITERS

I m perial Miter

2"

M. imperio/is Red i n g

Melon - l i ke Miter 1 "

M. cucumerina Lamarck
Under rocks; sha l l ow water

MITERS

93

Pl icate Miter

2"

Rugose Miter

V. rugosum

L i nne
Indo-Pacific; common

L i n ne
Indo-Pacific; common

Belcher's Miter

3"

Mitra belcheri H i nds

West Panama; uncommon

Ba rbados Miter 2"

M . barbadensis Gmelin
Cari bbean ; common

94

2"

Vex ilium plicarium

Little Fox Miter

V. vulpeculum

2"

L i nne
Indo-Pacific; common

Zaca Miter

3"

M . z a c a Strong & Hanna

West Panama; uncommon

Nodulose Miter

2"

M. nodulosa Gmeli n

Caribbean ; common

COMMON INDO-PACIF IC MITERS

letter Miter

Mitro litterata

2"

Pa p i l i o Miter

M . popilio l i n k

Isabel Miter 3"

M . isabella Swainson

3/4''
lamarck

Auger- l i k e
Miter 4"

M. terebralis

lamarck ....

Poor Miter

1"

M . paupercula

linne

B l ood-sucker Miter

M . sanguisuga

2"

linne

MITERS

95

S i n o Miter 1 1/2'
Pterygia sinensis Reeve
East Asia

Casta Miter

N ucea Miter

2"

I ndo-Pacific

1"
Pterygia conus Gme l .

Southwest Pacific

Indo-Pacific

O l i ve-shaped Miter

1/,-%"
Swoinsonia olivaeformis Swo i nson

I ndo-Pacific

Common l m bricaria

lmbricaria conica Sch u m .

South Pacific

3/4"

Fenestrate Miter %"

Pterygia fenestrate Lam.
Indo-Pac ific

Some of the smal ler species of miter shells (above) show

great diversity in shape, especial ly Indo- Pacific genera
such as Swainsonia, lmbricaria and Pterygia_ Some of
these strange miters resemble cones, ol ives and Strombus
conchs . These genera contain only a few dozen species,
which are all sand-dwel l ers.
96

MITERS

2"

Pterygia dactylus L .

Indo-Pacific

Swainsonia casta Gmelin

Cone Miter

Dact y l u s Miter

2"

Pterygia nucea Gmel i n

VOLUTES

Volute shells (Volutidae) are large, colorful gastropods.

Popular with collectors, some command high prices. Of
about 200 kinds, most live in shallow, tropical seas, but
some come from deep waters and a few from polar waters .
Volutes are carnivorous, rapid crawlers . Females lay eggs
in leathery capsules. The operculum is absent in most, but
not in the true Vo/uta. Volute shells have strong folds, fairly
constant in number, on the columella .

Music Vol ute

Hebrew Vol ute

5"

2-3"

Voluto musico L i n ne
C ari bbean

Voluta ebraea
Linne
Brazil

columella
folds
.. .

..
VO LU T E S

97

'

Bot Vo lute

'

3"

Aulico vespertilio Linne

Indo-Pacific; common

Aulico Vo l ute

Aulica aulica ltf t .

P h i l ippines; rare

4"

<IIIII Noble Vol u te

5"

Aulica nobilis lightfoot

S . E . Asia; uncommon

Imperial Vol ute

1 0"

Aulica imperialis lightfoot

P h i l i ppines; uncommon

..

98

VO LU T E S

FLO R I DA VOLUTES belong to the

subfamily Sco phellinoe, ond all l ive
in fa i r l y dee p water exce p t for
the J unonio, which i s occasionally
washed ashore i n west F lorida . The
animals ore spotted l i ke their shells
and they a l l lock o n operc u l u m .
S o m e ore v e r y rare .

Kiener's Volute

4-7"

Scaphella kieneri Clench

Dee p water; rare ....

Dohrn's Vo l u te

3"

Scaphella dohrni Sowerby

Dee p water; rare

J u n o n i a Vo l u te

4-5"

Scaphella ;unonio lamarck

S . E. U n i ted Stoles ....

VOLU T E S

99

J APANESE VOLUTES

S h i n-bone Vo l u te

2%"

Teromochio tibiaeformis
Kuroda
Japan; rare

Asia n Flame Vo lute 4" ....

Fulgoraria rupesfris Gmelin
Chino and Formoso
Common offshore

<IIIII N ota ble Japa nese Vo l u te 5"

Fulgoraria concinna Broderi p
Japan; uncommon

Deli cate Volute 3"

Fulgoraria delicafa Fulton
Japan; uncommon

1 00

VOLUTE S
Lightn i n g Vo lute
Ericusa fulgetrum Sby.
South Austra lia
U ncommon

Vex i l l ate Vo lute

3"

Harpulina arausiaca lightfoot

Ceylon; uncommon

Ara b Vo lute

4"

Alcithoe orobico Gme l i n

New Zea land

Common

Ponson by's Vo lute

2"

Alcithoe ponsonbyi E. A . Smith

South Africa; rare

1 01

MELON OR BALER SHELLS

These moderately common

volutes have a huge foot .

..
Mammal Volute 1 0"
Livonia mammilla Sowerby
outh Austra l i a ; offshore

Eth iopian Volute 6- 1 4"

Melo aethiopicus Linne
Indo-Pacifi c ; offshore i n sand ....

1 02

VO LU T E S

..
I n d i a n Vol u te 8"
Melo melo Lightfoot
Southeast Asia
Offshore

WES T AF RICAN
VOLUTES

E l e p h a n t's S n o u t
Volute 1 0- 1 4"
Cymbium glans Gmelin
Abundant offshore

O l l a Vo lute 8"
Cymbium olio linne
Common offshore

Neptune's Volute 6"

Cymbium pepo lightfoot
Common offshore

VO LU T E S

1 03

AUS TRALIAN VOLUTES

Tu rner's Vo l u te 2"
A moria furneri Gray
N orthern Austra l i a
T

Damon's Vo l ute 4"

A moria damoni Gray
Western Australia
Uncommon

E l l i ot's Vo lute 3 "

A moria elliofi Sowerby
South Austra l i a
Common in s a n d
Bed n a l l's Vol u te

4"

Volutoconus bednalli Brazier

Northern Austra l i a ; rare

Gross' Vo l ute

4 '/" ....

Volutoconus grossi lredale

Queensland; rare

I
1 04

Some volutes not only have a very broad foot, but also
extend the fleshy, shell-mak i ng mantle over the outer shell,
such as seen i n the top view of a crawling Angula r Volute
from Brazil (left) .

Ang u l a r Vol ute

4-5"

Zidono dufresnei Donovan

Bra z i l ; a n i m a l left, shell right

Common offshore

Abyssa l Vol u te

3"

Volutocorbis abyssicola Ads. & Rve .

South Africa; deep water; rare

Del esse rt's Vo l ute

2" ....

Lyria delessertiana Petit

Madagascar; uncommon

Miter-shaped Vo l ute 2"

Lyria mitraeformis lamarck
South Austra l i a
Common

VO LU T E S

1 05

N U TMEGS (Cancellariidae) are oddly sculptured with

strong spi ral teeth on the inner lip. The largest number of
species are in the western American tropics.

Cancel late Nutmeg

Concellorio concefloto

1"

Linne
West Africa
Moderately common

Oblique N utmeg

C . obliquafo

lamarck
Indo- Pacific
Commonly dredged

1"

Ye l low-mouthed
Nutmeg 1 "
C. chrysosfoma

Sower by
West Central America
Uncommon offshore;
mouth sometimes
orange, but fades
when shell i s dead

Speng l e r's N utmeg

2"

C . spengleriana Deshayes

East Asia; common

Common N utmeg
C . reficulata L i n n e
S . E. U n i ted States

1 06

N U TM E G S

2"

Hel met-shaped N utmeg

C . cassidiformis Sowerby

Panama to Ecuador

1 1/2'

MAR G I N S H E LLS (Marginellidae) are small and colorful,

especially those from the shores of West Africa . Bubble
Margin is the largest from the Americas.

Common At l a n t i c
Marg i n S h e l l '/"
Prunum apicinum Menke
U . S . to Caribbean
Common i n bays

Bubble Marg i n S h e l l

Prunum bullatum Born

Bra z i l ; uncommon

Orange Marg i n
Shell 1 "
Prunum corneum Storer
Florida-Caribbean
Uncommon offshore

2-3"

Rose Marg i n
Shell 1 "

Marginella rosea lam .

South Africa
U ncommon offshore

Belted Marg i n S h e l l 1 "

Prunum cingulatum D i l lwyn
West Africa

Bean Marg i n Shell

Marginella foba Linne

1"

West Africa

MARG I N S H E LLS

1 07

CONE SHELLS

Cone shells (Conidae) total about 400 species from most

warm, tropical waters. The majority of the species are
Indo-Pacific. Some 50 species are found in the Americas.
Cones are heavy, with broad spires and tapering whorls,
although some are as small as a grain of rice. Cones are
carnivorous, feeding on worms and small fish. A few from
the Indian and Pacific oceans can i nflict serious and per
haps fatal stings. The largest of the Textile Cones and the
Indo- Pacific Geography Cones are venomous. Poison from
the venom sac in the head and a tiny "harpoon" in the
radula sac are ejected from the proboscis and stabbed into
the victim. American cones have a m ild sting. Cones prefer
shallow water in coral reefs and under rocks. Their eggs,
in flat, leaflike capsules, are attached to rocks.
Living Textile Cone

DETAILS OF POISON APPARAT U S

1 08

CONES

GLORY-OF -TH E-SEAS

G l o ry-of-the-Seas 4 - 5 "
Conus gloriamaris Chemnitz
Southwest Pacific

Once considered a great rarity, the Glory-of-the-Seas was

a much sought-after cone and thought to be the most
valuable shel l in the wor ld. In recent years scu ba divers in
the southwest Pacific and bottom-net fishermen in the Phil
ippines have discovered hundreds of new specimens. Per
fect ones still sel l for several h undred dollars. Other rare
species of cones and cowries bring several thousands of
dollars. The Glory-of-the-Seas has almost straight, grace
ful outlines of the whorls and a very fine network of color
ation. Do not confuse this with the common Textile Cones
shown on page 113. Their sides are much more rounded
and their spires less elevated. The Glory-of-the-Seas has
not been known to be fatal, but is probably capable of
inflicting a serious sting.
CONES

1 09

COMMON INDO-PACIF IC CONES

dark phose

light phose

E b u rneus Cone 2"

Conus eburneus Hwoss
Two color forms
Tessellate Cone

1 -2"

Conus tessulatus Born

Spots vary i n size

1 10

CONES

F i g Cone

3"

Conus figulinus Linne

Right: with periostrocum

Left: c leaned shell

Marble Cone

4"

Conus marmoreus Linne

Rarely a l b i nistic

leopard Cone 5 -9"

Conus leop a rdus Ri:iding
Note white lower end

Pacific
lettered
Cone 3-5"
Conus litteratus L.
N ote brown ish end

The common Indo-Pacific cones on these two pages live in

sand , usually near coral reefs . By day they hide in the
sand; at night they emerge and feed-mainly on marine
worms . Living shell has a "skin" or periostracum .
Betu l i n u s Cone Conus betulinus L .
Southwest Pacific 4-6"

Hebrew Cone

3"

Conus nussotello L i nne

Indo- Pacific reefs

Distant Cone

4"

V i rg i n Cone

Conus distons Hwass

Indo- Pacific reefs

Magus Cone

Indo-Pacific boys

3"

Conus magus Linne

I ndo-Pacific
A variable species

1 12

CONES

4"

Conus virgo L i n ne

S o l d i er Cone

3"

Conus miles Li nne

Indo- Pacific

TEXTILE CONES

This group of cone shells, found mainly

in the Indo-Pacific region, is marked
with small tent-like triangles. All are
closely related to the common Textile
Cone (right). large ones are venomous.
See Glory-of-the-Seas, page 109.
Net ted Cone

2"

Conus retifer Me n ke

Indo- Pacific; uncommon

Tex t i l e Cone

3-4"

Conus textile Linne

Indo-Pacific; common

Aulicus Cone

4-6"

Conus aulicus Linne

Indo- Pacific ; uncommon

Queen Victoria Cone

Conus victoriae Reeve

N. W. Austra lia

3"

Abbas Cone

3"

Conus abbas Hwass

Indo- Pacific
U ncommon

CONES

1 13

The cones on this page are unusual and the pride of

collectors . The Geography Cone is venomous, the General
is the most common, and the Pertusa is hardest to find.
Pertusa Cone

Pontifical Cone

1 1/2'

Conus dorreensis

Conus pertusus Hwass

I ndo-Pacific

Lithograph Cone

2"
Conus litoglyphus Hwass
Indo- Pacific

Geography Cone 5"

Conus geographus Linne

Boug h Cone 4"

Conus thalassiarchus Sowerby

Indo- Pacific

_.-P h i l i pp i nes; uncommon

General Cone

3"

Conus generalis L .

I ndo-Pacific
Variable colors

1 14

CON ES

Peron and Lesueur

Austra l i a

1"

Some of these cones are so rare that few collectors have

them. Their rarity may indicate that their true habitat,
where they may be more common, hasn't been discovered.
Rhododen d ro n Cone 2 '1"
Conus adamsani Broder i p
Central Pacifi c ; v e r y rare
/

..
..
'
.,

U ncommon

N o b i l i t y Cone 1 - 2"
Conus nobilis Linne
Southwest Pacific; rare
in most areas , but less so
in the Sulu Sea , P h i l i ppi nes

Zoned Cone

3"
Conus zonatus Hwass

Andaman I s lands

CONES

1 15

Cancellate Cone

1 '/"

Conus cancellatus Hwass

Common offshore

Deep Sea Cone

3"

Tera mach i's Cone 3 "

Conus teramachi K u roda
Rare; deep water

Conus smirna

Bartsch & Rehder

J APANESE CONES
Austra l Cone

Siebo ld's Cone 3 "

Conus sieboldi Reeve

3"

Conus australis H olten

U ncommon offshore

Common offshore

Fu lmen Cone

2"

Conus fulmen Reeve

Shal low water; common

1 16

CONES

Genua nus Cone

2"

Conus genuanus Linne

Rare

Trader Cone

1 1/2'

Conus mercator Linne

U ncommon

Prometheus Cone

8- 1 2"

Conus p ulcher lightfoot

Largest living cone

Moderately common

Butterfl y Cone 3 "

Actua lly the young o f the
Prometheus Cone

CONES 1 1 7

F LORIDA-CARIBBEAN
CONES
Crown Cone

3"

Conus regius Gmel i n

Common on reefs
S. F l a . -W. Indies

Alphabet Cone 3"

Conus spurius Gmelin
Common i n sand
F l a . -Gulf of Mexico

Jeweled Cone

;,"

Conus hieroglyphus Duclos

Caribbea n ; rare

Florida Cone

2"

Conus floridanus Gabb

Common i n sand
N. Car. -Fiorida; variable

Glory-of-the-Atlantic
Conus granulatus Linne
Florida-W. Indies; rare

Sozon's Cone

4"

C. delessertii Rec l u z

Southeast U . S .
U ncommon offshore

1 18

CONES

2"

I n terru pted Cone

Conus ximenes Gray

2"

Lucid Cone

Mexico to Ecuador
U ncommon

PACIF IC PANAMA
CONES
Pri nce Cone

2"

Conus lucidus Wood

Mexico to Peru
Common

2 1/2'

conus princeps li nne

Mexico to Ecuador
U ncommon

ladder Cone 2"

Conus gra da tu s Wood
High-spired sea/oris form
West Central America; uncommon
Pea r-shaped Cone

Conus patricius H i nds

N icaragua Ia Ecuador

3"

Common

CONES

1 19

AUGER SHELLS (Terebridae) are long and

brightly colored. The radu la and poison
gland are s i m i lar to those of cone shel ls.
No venomous sting has been recorded. Most
are tropical sand-dwel lers. The largest of
some 300 species is the Indo-Pacific Marl in
spike, 6-8 inches long.
Strigote Auger

1 1/2'

Terebra strigillata L i nne

Indo-Pacific; uncommon

D u p l i cate Auger 3"

Terebra duplicata lamarck
Austra l i a ; common in
sand i n shal low water

Morl i n s p i ke

6-8"

Terebra maculata Linne

Indo-Pacific; abundant

Tiger Auger

2"

Terebra felina D i l lwyn

Indo-Pacific; common

1 20

AUGERS

COMMON INDO-PACIFIC AUGERS

S u b u l ate Auger 6"
Terebro subuloto Linne
Indo-Pacific; sandy areas

Muscaria Auger

6"

Terebro oreolata L i n k

I ndo-Pacific; n e a r reefs

D i m id i a te Auger 6"
Terebro dimidioto Linne
I ndo-Pacific; muddy sand

AUGERS

121

Triseriote Auger 5"

Terebro triserioto Gray
I ndo-Pacifi c ; col lector's item

Eyed Auger

6"

Terebro guftoto Reding

I ndo-Pacific; uncommon

1 22

AUGERS

Cren u l ate Auger 6"

Terebro crenufoto Linne
Indo- Pacific; common
Left: typical form
Right: fimbriate form

INDO-PACIF IC AUGERS

4.

3.

1 . Cerith i n a Auger
1"
Terebra cerithina lamarck

Common

3 . Affi n i s Auger 1 "

Terebro affinis Gray
Abundant; l ives in sand, under rocks

2 . C h l orate Auger 2"

Terebro chlorate lamarck
Common

4 . Babylon Auger 1 "

Terebro bobylonio lamarck
Abundant; l ives i n sand, under rocks

These small augers l ive i n sand at depths of 3 to 60 feet. They toke shelter
under small coral rocks. Col lectors "fan" the water briskly to stir away
the sand and reveal the brightly colored augers. Some people use wire
mesh sieves.

Nebu l ose Auger 3 "

Terebro nebulosa Sowerby
Uncommon; in sand

La nce Auger

2"

Terebro lonceofo Linne

Uncommon; i n sand

AUGERS

1 23

F LORIDA-CARIBBEAN AUGERS

1 . G ray Auger

3/"

Terebra cinerea Gme l i n

West I n d i e s ; common

2 . Atl a n t i c Auger 2"

Terebra dislocata Say
S . E . U n i ted States; common
3 . Florida Auger 3 "
Terebra Roridona Doll

Off F l orida; uncommon

4 . Flame Auger 4-6"

Terebra taurinus lightfoot
A rare West Indian species
5.

S h i n y Auger

2"

Terebra hastata Gmelin

Florida-West I ndies; common

1 24

AUGERS

CENTRAL AMERICAN AUGERS

2.
3.

1 . Va riegate Auger 2"

Terebra voriegoto Gray
Panama; moderately common
2 . Robust Auger 4"
Terebra robusta H i nds
Mexico to Ecuador; uncommon

3. Zebra Auger 4"

Terebro strigoto Sowerby
Mexico to Panama; uncommon

In sandy areas between Baja California and E cuador about

40 species of Terebra are found . A few are outstanding in
color and size; most are small; some very common . These
three burrow in muddy sand .
AUGERS

1 25

(Turridae) are a highly evolved group of

marine gastropods. The radu l a r teeth have been reduced
to a single row in most forms. Most have a "turrid" notch
or indentation on the upper pa rt of the outer lip. Severa l
hundred species of va riable shapes are found both in very
deep and in shallow water. Turrid shel l s var y i n length from

T U R R I D S H E LLS

H u m ped Tu rrid

2"

Crassispira gibbasa Born

West Indies; rare

Fusiform Tu rrid

3"

Spergo fusiforme Kur. & Hobe

Japan; rare

Babylon Tu rrid

3"

Turris babylonia L i n n e

Indo-Pacific; common

1 26

TU R R I DS

E a r Tu rrid

1"

Clavus conoliculoris Red i ng

Indo-Pacific; common

1/1 6

to 5 " . The Miraculous Thatcheria, below, is the world's

largest turrid shell . A few cold-water species are sini strally
coiled, or "left-handed . " Japan alone has over 400 spe
cies of turrids.

J APANESE TURRIDS

face view

Miracu lous Thatcheria 4-5"

T hatcheria m irabilis Sowerby
Japan; deep water
Moderately common

left-handed Tu rrid

Anti planes contraria Yokoyama

Bering Sea ; uncommon

Do ll's Aforia

3"

Afo ri a circinata Doll

Japan; common offshore

TURRIDS

1 27

head
tentacle

foot

living Paper B u b b l e

P a p e r B u b b l e 2"; Hydatina
physis l. Indo-Pacific

B U B B L E S H E LLS (order Tecti branchia) have external,

plume-like gills and both sexes present i n the same i ndivid
ual . Some have internal shells, but those of the bubble
shell family (Bullidae) are external, large, and spacious.
Bubble shells, mostly tropical, are carnivorous. They lay
eggs in long, gelatinous strands.

Atl a n t i c B u l l a 1 1/2'
Bulla striata Bruguiere
West I ndies; abundant
Ampl ustre Bubble

White-banded B u b b l e 1 "
Hydotino a/bocincta H oeven
Japan; uncommon

1 1/2'

Aplustrum amplustre Linne

Indo-Pacific; uncommon

1 28

B U B B L E S H E LLS

Pacific Bubble

2"

B ulla ampulla Linne

Indo-Pacifi c ; abundant

TH E B I VALV E S
The pelecypods, or lamellibranchs, the second largest class
of mollusks, contain about l 0,000 species of bi
valves, including the clams, mussels, oysters and scallops.
About one third live in fresh water; the others are marine .
They lack a head and radular teeth. Feeding is aided by
the gills, and most species live on m icroscopic plant life.
The mantle is modified at the posterior end into two tubular
si phons which draw and expel water from the mantle cav
ity. The two shells (valves) are kept closed by strong ad
ductor muscles, and kept slightly open by the action of an
elastic, horny pad or ridge-the ligament. Most bi
valves shed their eggs directly into the water, but a few
brood the young in gill pouches. The sexes may be com
bined in one individual or may be separate.
Oysters, clams and scallops are a major source of food.
From oysters come valuable pearls. The Teredo Shipworm,
a bivalve, is destructive to wharf pilings.
d igestive gland

anterior
end

shell

mantle edge

THE B I VA LV E S

1 29

ARK S HELLS (Arc idae) have a long series of sma l l , s i m i l a r

teeth on t h e h i nge . They have no siphons and most are
anchored by a byssus of hai r l ike threads . Of 200 species
(24 American) most are tropica l ; many are gathered com
mercially for food .

West I n d i a n Tu rkey W i n g

Area zebra Swa inson

3"

Carolina to W. Indies
and Bermuda

PEN S H E LLS ( P i n n idae), large and fragile,

l ive buried i n soft sand anchored by a silky
byssus . Ancients made a "golden fleece" from
the byssal th reads of Giant Med i terra nean
Pen, Pinna nobilis Linne, 1 4" (front) . The black
shell (back) i s the American Stiff Pen She l l ,
Atrina rigida lightfoot, 7 "

1 30

A R K A N D P E N S H E LLS

W I N G OYST E R S (Pteriidae), edible but unpalata ble, sel

dom produce precious pearls. Tropical species, with pearly
interiors and long, winglike projections of the hinge, have
fragile shells. Wing oysters attach themselves to the ocean
bottom and to wharf pilings .
G i a n t W i n g Oyster 7"
Pteria penguin Roding
Indo- Pacific; moderately common

PEARL OYSTE RS, s i x tropical species,

l ive on rocky ocean botto m s . Layers of
calcium carbonate around a foreign
body i n the mantle make pea r l s . Most
productive are the Black-lipped, above
(Pinctada margaritifera Linne, S. E .
Asia, 6") and Japanese, right (P. mar
tensii Dunker, 3").

W I N G AND P E A R L OYS T E R S

131

H AMMER OYSTERS
(lsognomonidae)

side view

Flat Tree Oyster

3"

ls ogn o m o n olatus Gmelin

F lorida and W. Indies; common

Lives i n lower mangrove branches

Common H a m m e r Oyster

Malleus malleus Linne

4-6"

Indo-Pacific; common

White H a m m e r Oyster
Malleus albus Lamarck

4-7"

Indo-Pacifi c . Shallow water;

anchors to bottom; common

1 3 2 H AMM E R OYST E R S

MUSSELS (Mytilidae) are the most abundant of all mol

lusks. They occur in dense colonies on rocky shores and
wharf pilings. Mussels protect and feed many kinds of
snails, worms, and crabs. FIL E CLAMS (limidae) swim away
from predators by flappi ng their shells and tentacles . Some
file clams build nests for protection.

At lantic R i b bed Mussel 3-4"

Geukensio dem issa D i l lwyn
lives i n marsh peat
Canada to Texas

Blue Edible Mussel

M ytilus edulis Linne

2-3"

lives on rocky coasts

Europe and N . E . America

Rough File C l a m

Lima scabra Born

2-4"

Florida ond W. Indies

living c l o m ot left

M U S S E LS A N D LIMA

1 33

SCALLO P S (Pectinidae) are a worldwide group of several

hundred speci-es, including several large nor thern kinds
fished commercially for the l a rge single muscle, which is
excellent eating. By snapping their shells together, scallops
propel themselves rapidly i n a zigzag di rection. Most kinds
have a series of brightly colored eyes along the edge of
the mantle. These are sensitive to minor changes in l igbt
intensity, as might be caused by a passing fish. What
appear to be the top and bottom valves of the scallop are
actually left and right valves. The left (lower) valve is
usually more convex.

edge view of mantle, showing eyes

1 34

SCALLOPS

JAPANESE SCALLOPS. These two deep-water species

show an unusual range of pastel color variations.

Top Row, Swift's Scallop 3-5" Chlamys swifti Bernardi
Bottom Rowo Noble Scallop 3-5" Chlamys nobilis Reeve

SCALLOPS

135

EASTERN AMERICAN SCALLOPS are found from Labra

dor to the West Indies. The Calico Scallop, used in shell

jewelry, is abundant offshore in south Florida. Lion's Paw,
a strong heavy shell, is a collector's favorite. Atlantic Deep
Sea and Atlantic Bay Scallops, both common on the East
Coast, are popular seafood.
Lion's Paw 3-5"
Lyropecten nodosus
Florida-W. Indies

Linne

Calico Scallop 1-2"

Argopecten gibbus Linne
S.E. U.S.-Caribbean

Atlantic Deep Sea Scallop 8"

Placopecten magellanicus Gmelin
Atlantic Bay Scallop 4"
Argopecten irradians lamarck
Eastern United States; abundant

Labrador-Carolinas
Commonly dredged for food purposes

I N D O - PAC I F I C S C ALLOPS do not compare with other

famous shells of this region. Most unusual is large Asian
Moon Scallop with bottom valve white, top valve colored.

Leopard Scallop 3 "

Annachlamys leopardus Reeve
Northern Austra l i a ; uncommon

Mantle Sca l l o p

3"
Gloripa llium p a llium Linne

Indo-Pacific; common

Asian Moon Sca l l o p

Amusium pleuronectes

S . E . Asia
Deep water; common

Folded Sca l l o p

l.

4-5" ....

2"

Decatopecten plica Linne

S . E . Asia

S CALLOPS

1 37

a re not related to true oysters. The

h uge H innites of western American waters is i n the scallop
fa m ily a nd may weigh up to 20 l bs. The thorny oysters of
the fa m ily Spondylidae have a typical ball-and-socket

T H O R N Y OY ST E R S

G i a n t Rock Sca l l o p 4-8"

Hinnites gigantea Gray
Alaska Ia Mexico

young farm

Atlantic Thorny Oyster 6" Spandylus americanus Hermann

F l orida and Cari bbea n ; twa calor forms shown below

1 38

T H O R N Y OYST E R S

hinge joint and develop long spines. They occur in deep

water, usually in the tropics, and have a r ich, varied color
pattern. These fairly common bivalves are sometimes called
chrysanthemum shells .
Regal Thorny Oyster S-8"
Spondylus regius Linne
S . E . Asia; uncommon

Common

1 39

Giant Clam

2-4 ft.

Tridacna gigas Linne

I ndo-Pacifi c

Tridacna squamosa Lamarck

Indo-Pacific

(Tridacnidae) is the largest shelled mollusk,

exceeded only by the 55-ft. Giant Sq uid of the North
Atlantic. It is not a man-eating clam . The Giant Clam of
Indo-Pacific coral reefs feeds on colonies of marine algae
which grow in its fleshy mantle. A non-precious pearl the
s i ze of a golf ball may be produced .
G I A N T C LAM

1 40

G I A N T C LAMS

J EW E L B O X E S {Chamidae), about 20 species of them,

live attached to rocks and wrecks. These tropical shells are
variable in form and brilliantly colored.
Lazarus Jewel Box
Chama lazarus L i n ne
Indo- Pacific

4"

Leafy Jewel Box 3"

Chama maceraphylla Gmelin
F lorida and Caribbean

{Carditidae), also from tropical waters, are

long and radially ribbed. They are common clams of shal
low, muddy bays. About 30 species have been recorded.
CA R D I TAS

Rosy Card ita 2"

Cardita crassicosta Lamarck
Austra l i a ; uncommon

Broad-ri bbed C a rd ita 1 - 1 '/2'

Cardita floridana Conrad
Florida; abundant

{ lucinidae) are worldwide tropical clams with

strong, thin shells and long anterior muscle scars. The two
siphons are very short; the hinge may be well toothed or
toothless. Most of the 200 species are eaten by fishes but
a few are used as food by man. The Elegant Fimbria is a
delicately formed and tinted relative.
LU C I N E S

Th i c k Lucine

2"

Phacoides pecfinata Gmelin

F l a . to Caribbean ; common

Butterc u p Lucine

Anodontia alba link

2"

S . E . U . S . -Cori bbeon ; abundant

Pennsylva n i a Lucine 2"

Lucina pensylvanico Linne
S . E . U . S . -Cari bbea n ; common

Pacific T i g e r Lucine

Codakia tigerina L i nne

Indo-Pacifi c ; abundant

5"

Punctate Lucine

3"

Codakia punctata Linne

Indo-Pacific; common

LU C I N E S

1 43

inhalant si phon
foot

E u ropean Cockle 2"

Cerastoderma edule Linne
Western E urope; edible

enlarged

C O C K L E S (Cardiidae) are a large group of colorful spe

cies which demonstrate an evol utionary explosion, the
result of which is an array of bi zarre shapes showing all
degrees of sculpturing . Some species are copious and
ribbed; others are compressed. Cockles are active ani
mals . They can jump several inches b y means o f a long,
powerful foot. A current of water entering through the
inhalant siphon brings food and a supply of oxygen. Cock
les are a food for fishes as well as for man .

Cardium costatum Linne

West Africa; common

1 44

COCKLES

Pri ckly Cockle

2"

Trachycardium egmontianum Shutt.

S . E . U . S . ; common in sand
Sometimes pure white (albinistic)

Lyrate Cockle

2"

D iscors lyrata Sowerby

S . E . Asia; uncommon

Heart Cockle 3"

Corculum cardissa Linne
Indo-Pacific; common

Oblong Cockle

2"

Laevicordium oblongum

Gmelin
E urope; uncommon

H a lf-heart Cockle

1 '/"

Hemicardium hemicardium Linne

Indo-Pacific; uncommon

COCKLES

1 45

D ETAILS OF H I N G E
\ \exha lant siphon
inhalant s i phon
foot

E u ropean Ven u s

3"

Venus verrucosus Linne

E u rope

Roya l Comb Ven u s

Pilar diane Linne

2"

Tex . to Carib . ; uncommon

H a rd Shell or Q u a hog

3"

Mercenoria mercenaria Linne

Eastern U . S . ; edible

(Veneridae) are probably the most suc

cessful of all the clams . Over 400 abundant species occur
the world over. All have hinges which bear interlocking
lateral and cardinal teeth . The well-developed foot is
compressed and hatchet-shaped. American Indians once
manufactured their wampum from the Quahog, the chief
com mercial clam of east coastal U.S. Young Q uahogs are
known as cherrystones and littlenecks. The Philippines have
over one hundred varieties of venus clams .

V E N U S C LAMS

1 46

V E N U S C LAMS

C a l i co C l a m

2"

Pismo C l a m

5"
Tivela stultorum Mawe

Macrocallista maculata Linne

Carolinas to Caribbean
I ntroduced to Bermuda
Abundant

King Venus

Calif. to Mexico
Abundant

1 1/2' ...

Chione paphia Linne

West Indies; uncommon

S u n ray Venus 5"

Macrocallista nimbosa Lightfoot
S . E . Un i ted States; common

V E N U S C LAMS

1 47

INDO-PACIF IC VENUS CL AM S

Wedd i n g C a k e Ven u s 2 '1."

Callanaitis disiecta Perry
Austra lia; uncommon

Golden Venus

3"

Paphia euglypta Philippi

East Asia; uncommon

la m e l l ate Venus

2"

Antigana lame/loris Schumacher

Indo-Pacific; common

Squa mose Ven u s

S . E . A s i a ; common

exterior

lettered Ven u s

Tapes literata Linne

3"

Indo-Pacific; common

1 48

V E N U S C LAMS

1"

Anomalodiscus squomosus L .

(Te l linidae) are a large, mainly tropical family of

sand-dwelling clams with elongate fragile shel l s and two
long, separate siphons . Over 200 species; most are shiny
and delicately tinted. The Sunri se Tel lin is used in she l l
jewel ry manufacture.
TELLI N S

Candy Stick Ye l l i n 1 "

Tel/ina sim i/is Sowerby
F l a . -Caribbean ; abundant

foot

Hatchet Ye l l i n

1"

Tel/ina donacina Linne

Med iterranean

....
S u n rise Ye l l i n

3"

Tel/ina radiate Linne

Fla. and West Indies

Abundant in sand

V i rgate Ye l l i n 2 '/2'
Tel/ina virgata Li nne
Indo-Pacific; common
....
Rostrate Ye l l i n 3''
Tel/ina rostrata L i n ne
S. E . Asi a ; rare

T E LL I N S

1 49

Large Stri g i l l a

Burnett's Te l l idora 1 '/,''

Tellidora burnetti Broderip
West Mexico; uncommon

At lantic Grooved Macoma

Psammotreta intastriata Say
F lorida-Caribbean

1"

Strigilla carnaria Linne

S . E . U . S . -Cari bbean

3"

Bru g u i e re's Macoma

2"

Macoma bruguierei Hanley

P h i l i ppines; uncommon

Close relatives of the true tellins (Tel/ina) are the strigillas

of shallow, sandy bottoms. The shells are finely sculptured.
The macomas are twisted toward the back and the hinge
lacks the lateral teeth.
1 50

T E LLI N S A N D MACOMAS

S U R F C LAMS (Mactridae) i n c l ude many large edi ble clams

with a spoon-shaped depression on the h i nge. The Atlantic
Surf Clam , common on sandy beaches, is the source of
commercial clam chowder. The duck clams, Raeta, of warm
waters, have th i n , fragile she l l s.

Oblong S u rf C l a m 5 "
Lutroria o bl o ng a Gmelin
Western E urope 'Y

Hians S u rf C l a m

3"

Moctro hians Philippi

S . E . Asia; common

C h a n neled D u c k Clam 3"

Raeta p licatella Lamarck
Carolinas to Carib. ; common

S U R F C LAMS

151

SA N G U I N C LAMS (Psammobiidae), of tropical, sha l low,

m uddy waters, are closely related to the tel lin shells. The
th in, nearly transparent shells are drab in color with purple
and browns predominating. About 100 species are known,
many edible.

Violet S a ng u i n 2"
Soletellina violacea lomorck
East Indies; common
N u t t a l l's Mahogany Clam 3"
<1111 Sanguinolaria nuttal/i Conrad
Cal ifornia to Mexico; common

Mediterranean Solecurtus
Solecurtus strigilatus Linne
Mediterranean ; uncommon

Opercul ate Sang u i n 2"

Sanguinolaria cruenta lightfoot
Caribbean-Brazil
Note that one va lve i s
flatter t h a n the other.
Calor often rose.

1 52

S A N G U I N C LAMS

3"

"-'

The Gaudy Asa phis, Asaphis deflorata Linne, shown above, is a colorful
3 - i n . sanguin clam from the Caribbea n . It is common i n the intertidal
zone i n grave l . Colors may be rose, wh ite or purple.

W E D G E C L AMS (Donacidae) are small, wedge-shaped

clams found in the sand of nearly every temperate and
tropical beach. Most of the 50 species are edible. The
Atlantic Coquina is also known as the Butterfly Shell.
Atlantic Coq u i n a

1/2"
Donax variabilis Say
S . E . U . S . ; makes good soup

G i a n t South African Wedg e

3"

Oonax serra Gmelin

South Africa; common

Cal iforn i a n Wedge

1"

Donax californicus Conrad

California to Panama

1 53

(Solenidae) a re the true razor shells

which dig a foot or more i nto sandy beaches with the i r
curved, powerful foot. T h e A t l a n t i c Jackkn ife is t h e l a rgest
and most com mon on the eastern Atlantic coast . It and
Pacific species a re harvested commercially. About 40 spe
c ies a re know n . In the genus So/en the hi nge teeth a re at
the very end of the shell; in Ensis they a re a bit forwa rd .
JACKKN I F E C LAMS

G i a n t Japa nese Solen

Solen grandi s D unker
Eastern Asia

Goul d's Solen

5"

5"

Solen gouldi Conrad

Eastern Asia

Atlantic Jackkn ife C l a m

Ensis directus Conrad

6-7"

Labrador-Carolinas

Rose-spotted Solen

2"

Solen roseomaculatus P i l sbry

Japan

1 54

P h i l i ppi's Razor

2"

Ensiculus philippianus Dunker

S . E . Asia; uncommon

J A C K K N I F E C LAMS

(Teredinidae) are highly spec iali zed mol

l usks. The adu l t i s a destructive wood borer, honeycombing
wooden s h i ps and p i l ings with burrows cut by the smal l
sharp-edged she l l s. The mantle secretes lime to l i ne the
tube, and two paddle-shaped pal lets regulate the si phon
openings. The Watering Pot (Ciavagellidae) buries its shelly
tube in the m ud or sand. lower end i s perforated.
S H I PWO RMS

.... Watering Pot

5"

Penicillus penis Linne

Indo-Pacific; uncommon

Common S h i pworm 1/2-2 ft.

Teredo navalis Linne
Coastal N . A . , E u rope, Afr i ca

shell valve

\12- 1 "

WAT E R I N G POT A N D S H I PWO RMS

1 55

Class Cephalopoda, the

most highly developed mollusks, also include the octopus
and squid. Cephalopoda have heads with eight or more
tentacles and highly developed eyes. The sexes are sepa
rate. All are carnivorous and most lack shells. The female
Paper Nautilus secretes a shell with a specialized arm to

A R G O N A UTS A N D N A U T I LU S ,

"shell" of fema l e
tenta c le
mouth

r
.

Common Paper N a u t i l u s
Argonauta argo Linne
Worldwide, warm seas

a male Argonaut

Brown Paper N a u t i l u s

Argonauta hians lightfoot

Worldwide, warm seas

1 56

ARGONAUTS

3"

6- 1 2" .,

Nodose Paper N a u t i l u s

Argonauta nodosa lightfoot

Worldwide, warm seas

5"

protect her eggs. The smaller male makes no shell . The

Chambered, or Pearly, Nautilus lives in tropical deep
water, swimming i n search of crabs and shellfish . Sur
rounding the mouth are 60-90 small tentacles . The sealed-
off, gas-filled chambers serve as a balancing apparatus. I t
is most abundant i n the central Phili ppi nes .
cross section

C h a m bered N a u t i l u s 4-8"
Nautilus pampilius Linne
W. Pacific ocean bottoms

I
lost body chamber
End views of the Chambered N a u t i l u s . The fe
male below i s narrower
than the male seen a bove .

C H AM B E R E D N A U T I LU S

1 57

I NDEX
Because this book deals with 200 genera i nvolving over
1, 100 scientific and popular species names, t h i s index has
been condensed to aid the reader in locat i ng the fami l ies
and genera i n wh ich the i l l ustrated species occur.
1 4 , 24-25
13
Afor i o , 1 27
A l c i thoe, 1 0 1
ii)
"' A m o r i o , 1 04
"' w
A m u s i u m , 1 37

S'

;:::
z

Abalones,

Bubble She l l s ,

Abyssal m o l l u s k s ,

Bucci n u m ,

Anato my, Gastropod ,

22

Bivalve,

co u
0
z
<

Anc i l l a ,

1 29

88
35

1 28

81

B u l l Mouth H e l m e t ,

1 28
Bursa, 67
Busycon , 87
Bulla,

65

1 42
1 53

Buttercup L u c i n e ,

Butterfl y S he l l ,
Calico Clam,

1 47
1 36

Anga r i a ,

C a l i c o Sca l l o p ,

Annachlamys,

C a l iforn i a n Prov i n c e ,

1 37
1 42
Anomo l od i s c u s , 1 48
Antigone, 1 48
Anti p l a n e s , 1 27
A p l u s tr u m , 1 2 8
w
Aporrha i s , 20
< Area zebra, 1 30
u
"' "' Architecton i c a , 38

z A r g o n a u t s , 1 56
ii Argopecte n , 1 36
:::>
"' Ark She l l s , 1 30
<
..., w
Asoph i s , 1 53

Astroea , 33
Atr i n o , 1 30
Auger She l l s , 1 20- 1 25
A u l i c o , 98
Anodo n t i a ,

2 1 , 83
She l l s , 1 02

B a by l o n i a ,
Baler

Barnacle Rock She l l ,

78

67
1 29- 1 55
B l ee d i n g Too t h , 36
Bonnets, 64-65
Books on shells, 1 1
Biplex,

Bivalves,

1 58

IN DEX

14

1 48
31
C a n ce l l a r i a , 1 4 , 1 06
C o p She l l s , 4 1
Corditas, 1 4 1
C a r d i u m costa t u m , 1 44
Collonoitis,

C o l l i osto m o ,

C a r i bbean Prov i n c e ,

19

2, 48

Carrier She l l s ,
Cosmorio,
Cassis,

63

65

Cot's eye , 32
Cera stod e r m o ,
Ceriths,
Choma,

1 44
39
1 2, 1 4 1

C h a m bered N a u t i l u s ,

1 57

C h o n k She l l s ,

68
1 47
C h i tons, 3, 7
C h l a mys, 1 35
Charon i o ,

91

C h i one,

C h l orosto m a ,

29

C h rysanthem u m s ,

1 3 8- 1 39

30
1 2 , 1 5 , 1 40,
1 46- 1 48 , 1 5 1 ,
1 52 , 1 53 , 1 54
Clanculus, 28
Citto r i u m ,

Clams,

Classes of m o l l u s k s ,
C l ovagel l idae,

1 55

1 26
1 44- 1 45
Cada k i a , 1 43
Col lecting she l l s , 9
Colubrorio, 83
Conchalepos, 78
Conchs, 1 6, 1 9, 42-45,
46-47, 84, 85
Cone Shells, 2 1 ,
1 08- 1 9
Coqu i n a , 1 53
Coral Sna i l s , 80
Coro l l i o p h i l o , 80
Corcu l u m , 1 45
Cowrie-helmet, 65
Cowries, 1 2 , 1 7, 20, 2 1 ,
5 1 -62
Crossispiro, 1 26
Crepidulo, 4 1
Crown Conch, 84
Cruc i b u l u m , 4 1
C l avus,

Cockles,

Cup-and-Sa ucer

41
69
Cym b i u m , 1 02- 1 03
Cyproeo, 5 1 -62
Cyproecossis, 65
She l l s ,

Cymot i u m ,

Decatopecten ,

1 37
35

De l p h i n u l a S na i l ,
D i sc o r s ,

1 45

D i stribution of s he l l s

1 4- 2 1

geogra p h i ca l ,
with depth,

13

12

w i t h temperature,
Dogwi n k l e ,

79

Drupa,

1 4 , 79

Dye Murex,

79
151

H e l met She l l s ,

65, 66

Ensis,

1 54

1 03

96

I m pe r i a l Harp,

40
Ericusa, 1 0 1
Eupleura, 1 5

E p i t on i u m ,

16

Fam i l ies of bivalves,

4-5
Fasc i o l a r i a , 85
Ficus, 70
Fig She l l s , 70
F i l e C l a m , 1 33
F i m b r i a , 1 43
F r o g She l l s , 67
of sna i l s ,

Japalion,

99

Junonia,

Keyhole l i mpets,

87
1 00

Fulgoraria,

lambis,

Gal eodea ,

22

Goza,

30

1 53

1 33
Giant C l a m s , 1 40
Giant S q u i d , 1 40
G l o r i pa l l i u m , 1 3 7
Golden Cowrie, 62
G u i lford i a , 33
Gyrineum, 67
H a i r y Tr i t o n s ,
Haliotis,

Hammer Oyster,

latiaxis,

46-47
77

1 45

87
1 33
2 1 , 26-27
l i on's Paw, 1 36
l i t toral m o l l u s k s , 1 3
l i t tori n a , 1 5 , 37
livo n i a , 1 02
l u c i n e s , 1 42- 1 43
l u n a t i c , 49
lutra r i a , 1 5 1
lyr i c , 1 05
lyropecten , 1 36
l i m pets,

Macoma ,

1 50

Macroco l l i sto,

1 32

21

27

lima,

Geuken s i a ,

69
24-25

1 54

l i g h t n i n g Whe l k ,

66

Gastropod a natomy,
Gaudy Asa p h i s ,

2 1 ' 1 27

141

laevicard i u m ,

86

Me l o n g e n a ,

M i r a c u l o u s Thatche r i a ,

Mactra,
Mog i l u s ,

151
80

92-96
92-96
Monoplacophora, 3
Moon S n a i l s , 1 5 ,
49-50
Maru m , 66
Murex S he l l s , 1 8 , 20,
7 1 -76
M u s i c Vo l u t e , 97
Musse l s , 1 33
Myt i l u s , 1 33
Miter She l l s ,

J a panese P r o v i n c e ,
J ewel Boxes,

20
1 02
84

Province,
Melon She l l s ,

82

Marg i n e l l a ,

Med i terranean

1 32

Fulgar Whe l k s ,

Fusinus,

20, 63,

J a c k k n ife C l a m s ,

1 07
1 07
M a r l i n s p i k e , 1 20
Maurea, 3 1
Marg i n S he l l s ,

Indo-Pacific Province,
lsognomon,

1 8 , 70
1 32

Malleus,

1 40

1 45

1 45
1 46
H o r s e C o n c h , 85
H yd a t i n a , 1 28
l m br i c o r i a ,

Ma l e c ,

"Man-eat i n g " C l a m ,

H e m i c a rd i u m ,

73

1 54

1 46

H i nge of c l a m ,

E l ephant's S n o u t ,
Ensiculus,

38

Heliacus,

Dwa rf O l ive, P u r p l e ,

14

1, 1 2
H a r pu l i n a , 1 0 1
Hat She l l s , 4 1

Harpa,

Heart C o c k l e ,

Drupe Sna i l s ,
Duck C l a m ,

Hard Shell Clam,

1 47

Mitridae,

79
50
N a u t i l u s , 1 57
N e p t u n e , 1 5, 8 1
Neptunea, 1 5 , 8 1
N e r i t e s , 36
N ucel l a , 79
N utmegs, 1 4 , 1 06
Nasso,

Natica,

88
1 4, 1 8 ,

O l ivonc i l l a r i a ,
O l ive S he l l s ,

88-89
14

O l i ve l l a ,

15
1 3 1 , 1 32,
1 38 - 1 39

Oyster D r i l l ,
Oysters,

18
1 56

P a n a m i c Prov i n c e ,
Paper N a u t i l u s ,
Paphia,

1 48

P a r t r idge Tun ,

IN DEX

70

1 59

21
1 3 1 , 1 40
Pecten, 20
Pectinidae, 1 34- 1 37
Pelagic mollusks, 1 3
Pelican's Foot, 20
Pen Shells, 1 30
Pen i c i l l us, 1 55
Pen i o n , 82
,.
Periwinkles, 1 5 , 37
Phacoides, 1 42
Pha l i u m , 64
Phasiane l l a , 33
Pheasant She l l , 33
P h o s , 83
Pi nctada, 1 3 1
Pinna, 1 30
Pismo C l a m , 1 47
M :::l Pilar, 1 46
0 P lacopecten, 1 36
:f Pleuroploca, 85
Pieurotomaria, 23
Polir.ices, 49

Sconsi a ,

Pea r l s ,

Scorpion Conch,
Scotch Bonnet,
Scutus,

26

Shark Eye,

47
64

49

26
1 55
Si phon a l i a , 83
Sl i pper She l l s , 4 1
Slit Shells, 2 I , 2 3
Smaragd ia, 3 6
Solecurtus, 1 52
Solen, 1 54
Solete l l i n a , 1 52
Shield limpet,
Shipworms,

South African

Province,
Spergo,

1 26

21

Purpura,

1 9, 78

46-47
86
Spondylus, 1 38- 1 39
Star She l l s , 33
Stellaria, 48
Strig i l l a , 1 50
Strombina, 1 8
Strombus, 42-45
Sund i a l s , 38
Sunrise. Tel l i n , 1 49
Surf Clams, 1 5 1
Swa insonia, 96
Syrinx, 84

Quahog ,

1 46

Tapes,

Precious Wentletrap,

40

c:>

z Prunum,

....

66

Pate l l a ,

1 07

Psammotreta ,
Pter i a , 1 3 1
Pteryg ia, 96

Queen Teg u l a ,
Raeta ,

1 50

30

Tectus,

1 54
39

Rock She l l s (Thais),

Royal Comb Venus,

78

1 46

1 52
1 52
Sca l lops, 1 4, 20,
1 34- 1 38
Scaphe l l a , 99
Sang u i n C lams,

Sanguinolaria,

1 60

1 28
29
Teg u l a , 30
Tel l idora, 1 50
Tel l i n s , 1 9, 1 49- 1 50
Teramachia, 1 00
Terebra, 1 20- 1 25
Terebralia, 39
Tered o , 1 55
Thais, 78-79
Thatcheria, 2 1 , 1 27
Thorny Oysters, 1 38
Tibia, 48
Tivela, 1 47
Tectibranch i a ,

Razor Clams,
Rhi noclavi s,

Spindle She l l s ,

1 48
Tectarius, 37

151

Rapa , BO

Spider Conchs,

I N DEX

lonna,

70

28-3 1
1 45
Tree Oyster, 1 32
Tridacna, 1 40
Tritons, 68, 69
False, 83
Trochita, 4 1
Trochus, 28-29
Tu l i p She l l s , 85
Tun She l l s , 1 8, 70
Turbans, 32, 34-35
Turbinel l a , 91
Turbo, 32, 34-35
Turkey Wing, 1 30
Turrid Shells, 1 26- 1 27
Turris, 1 26
Turrite l l a , 37
Tusk She l l s , 3, 7
Tympanotomus, 39
Tyrian Purple Dye, 73
Top She l l s ,

Trachycard i u m ,

Umbon i u m ,

28

Varicospira,

48
90

Vase She l l s ,

90

Vasidae,

Venomous Cones,

1 08

Venus Comb Murex,

71

38
94
Vol utes, 1 7, 97- 1 05
Vol utoconus, 1 04
Vol utocorbis, 1 05
Verm icularia,
Vexi l l u m ,

1 55
1 53
Wentletraps, 40
Whelks, 1 2 , 1 8 , 8 1 -83, 87
Wing Oysters, 1 3 1
Wood Borers, 1 55
Wood louse Morum, 66
Wormshells, 38
Watering Pot,

Wedge C l a m s ,

Xenophora,
Zidona,

2 , 48

1 05
0 P Q R

\!)
\

EASHELLS OF THE WORLD

A GOLDEN GUIDE

, R. TUCKER ABBOTT, Ph . D. , author of several ou tstand

\ing books on shells, has been on the staff of the Smithson

n Institution and other museums specializing in mol

lusks . He taught malacology at the University of Delaware,
and is now president of American Ma lacologists, Inc . , a
p ublishing a nd consulting firm . He has produced guides
to shellfish and medically important mollusks for the
United Nations a nd Harvard University, respectively.

HERBERT S. ZIM, Ph . D. , Sc. D. , an originator a nd former

editor of the Golden Guides Series, was also a n author for
many years . Author of some ninety books a nd editor of
about as many, he is now Adjunct Professor a t the Uni
versity of Miami and Educational Consultan t to the Amer
ican Friends Service Committee and other organizations .
He works on educational, population and environmental
problem s .
GEORGE F . SANDSTROM, a well-known artist in the
field of natural history, has contributed to many encyclo
pedias, educational books, and magazines, and has illus
trated a number of popular Golden Books .
MARITA SANDSTROM has won top awards for scien
tific illustratio n . She has an active interest in science a nd
technology, and has illustrated in the field of clinica l pho
tomicrography of the cornea .
GOLDEN PRESS NEW YORK