SEASHELL AND BEACH FIND INDEX

 

MUREX SHELL

Murex is a genus of medium to large sized predatory tropical sea snails. These are carnivorous marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, commonly called "murexes" or "rock snails. The common name murex is still used for many species in the family Muricidae which were originally given the Latin generic name Murex in the past, but have more recently been regrouped into different newer genera. The word murex was used by Aristotle  in reference to these kinds of snails, thus making it one of the oldest classical seashell names still in use by the scientific community.
COWRIE SHELL
Cowrie is the common name for a group of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae. Cowry shells are usually smooth, shiny and more or less egg-shaped. The round side of the shell is called the Dorsal Face. The flat under side is called the Ventral Face, which shows a long, narrow, slit-like opening, which is often toothed at the edges. The narrower end of the egg-shaped cowrie shell is the anterior end. The broader end of the shell is called the posterior. The spire of the shell is not visible in the adult shell of most species, but is visible in juveniles, which have a different shape from the adults.

 

 

SUNDIAL SHELL

Architectonica perspectiva, whose common name is the clear or perspective sundial shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Architectonicidae, which are known as the staircase shells or sundials. The snails have a shell 5 to 7 centimeters in diameter. The cone-like shell coils up from a flat base. The spirals are composed of vibrant shades of black, white, and brown. The body and its tentacles are stripped as well to match the shell. Its operculum is made of a horn-like material.

 

 

LIMPET SHELL

Limpets are a group of aquatic snails with a conical shell shape (patelliform) and a strong, muscular foot. This general category of conical shell is known as "patelliform" (dish-shaped). Existing within the class Gastropoda, limpets are a polyphyletic group (its members descending from different immediate ancestors). All species of Patellogastropoda are limpets, with the Patellidae family in particular often referred to as "true limpets". Other examples include the Vetigastropoda family Fissurellidae ("keyhole limpet"), and the Siphonariidae ("false limpets"), which use a siphon to pump water over their gills.

 

FIGHTING CONCH

Strombus pugilis, common names are the fighting conch and the West Indian fighting conch. This is a species of medium to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family. Strombidae, the true conchs. Like other species in the same genus, Strombus pugilis has a robust, somewhat heavy and solid shell, with a characteristic stromboid notch. It has a well-developed body whorl and a short and pointed spire. It presents 8 to 9 whorls, each of them having a single row of subsutural spines, becoming larger towards the last whorl. These spines, however, may be less conspicuous or even absent in some populations. Its aperture is relatively long and slightly oblique. The posterior angle of the outer lip is distinct, projecting in the posterior direction in an erect fashion. The operculum is sickle-shaped, similar to several other Strombus snails.

 

 

SHARK EYES SHELL

The shark eye snail is a gastropod mollusk, meaning it has one opening in a spiral shaped shell. It is also part of the moon snail family. Its scientific name is Polinices duplicatus, although it is also known as the Atlantic moon snail or Neverita duplicata. Shark eyes are commonly found on the East Coast of the United States and in the Gulf of Mexico. They live mostly under the sand and use their single large foot to move around. They are known to live anywhere from very shallow waters near the shore, to deeper waters up to 190 feet deep.

 

DELPHINULA SHELL

Angaria delphinus, common name, the common delphinula, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk of the family. Angariidae. These are solid highly variable shells with a large body whorl and flattened spire. The umbilicus is wide and deep, suture of upper whorls scarcely perceptible. A row of flattened, curved spines. It has spiral bands of olive-green and red.

 

HARPULINA SHELL

Harpulina is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Volutidae. Restricted to Sri Lanka and the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula.