Speckled Tellin
This is the prettiest SPECKLED TELLIN I’ve ever seen! I met a Sanibel local gal Susie on the beach at Sanibel Blind Pass and while we were talking, I saw those stripes through her plastic shelling bag…. Okay, I always nonchalantly sneek a peek at someone’s shell bag while I talk to them (heehee). So I asked her what she had. She pulled out this gorgeous TELLIN! I don’t normally see SPECKLED TELLINS on this beach- especially with those pretty colored “rays”. Nice find Susie!
Susie (Sanibel) and Peg (Cincinnati, OH)
While I was talking to Susie and Peg, I saw our shelling sister Lee and her husband Bill who found the CARRIER SHELL in October. She told me she found an 11″ HORSE CONCH last week north of West Gulf Drive beach access #7. I had to see it!
Lee’s 11″ horse conch
Wow- that’s a doosie! And such a pretty color! You can’t see really how big it is so the next photo I put a little “candy” horsie conch next to it. Cute, huh?
Baby next to a grandaddy
Lee told me before she left home to come to Sanibel, her grandson Samuel said he would like her to find a big shell for him just like the one she has displayed in her “best shell finds” cabinet ….a big horse conch. Looks like you’ll get your wish Samuel!
Albino fighting conch
Lee also found this ALBINO FIGHTING CONCH. Sometimes it’s hard to tell an albino from a sun-bleached shell but in this case, there is such a glossy shine and all of the tips look so perfect that I am sure this must me an albino. This one will probably make it into Lee’s “best shell finds” cabinet too!
Albino fighting conch aperture
I always enjoy seeing so many different colors and color patterns of the FLORIDA FIGHTING CONCH. Shelling sister Mary Ann captured so many variations in this next photo, I thought you would enjoy this as much as I did. Thanks for posting this great shot on FaceBook, Mary Ann.
Florida Fighting Conch by Mary Ann Ross
Okay, lets get back to Lee and her other finds for the week… I see CHESTNUT TURBANS on a regular basis but I don’t show many pictures of them so here are a few in Lee’s collection this week.
Chestnut Turbans
So now I think I am acquiring a taste for bivalves after seeing this SPECKLED TELLIN and some of the other TELLINS in the last week. No, not to eat them (although I do love oysters at a raw bar) but to admire their beauty as much as the gastropods like the TURBAN or CONCH. I have to thank our blog buddy Bird for suggesting I get a copy of Bivalve Seashells of Florida by Trish Hartman. How did I live without this book before? Thank you, Bird (and Scott R)!
Double Broad-Ribbed Cardita
Turkey Wing
That is a gorgeous tellin! I think I need that book too! I have always had a much harder time identifying the bivalves. There are just so many that look so similar. Heading to Amazon right now to see what I can find!
That is an impressive horse conch!
When I first got the shelling bug a few years back, my favorites were the Lightning Whelks but over time shells with color variations are what I get the most excitement from, like the Fighting Conchs. Last December thousands were on the beach in front of Sundial. I wish I had pictures of some of the live ones I had to pass up, like the solid purple one and a beautiful yellow with purple edges. Nature is so amazing.
Very Cool Albino! That proves to me that the one i found is an albino too!! I wasnt sure about it but mine looks just like that one! Great find and I love that speckled tellin! Once again a mystery is solved because Pam is on the prowl!!
Gorgeous shells! Lots of great shells washing up.
I went to bed reading The Sanibel Kaleidoscope the other night – which I don’t advise doing, as I dreamed of tulips and little creatures with eyes – and it has great info on all the fighting conchs.
Like the one my little guy Manny was holding yesterdy – conchs with a cross, specifically the dark ones, are the rarest. So yea us!
I always learn so much when I visit you! Not much longer and I’ll be one of those gals digging around in the sand for a treasure! lol! Vacation is right around the corner! :)
Every day I check your blog and am always so thrilled with the photos and information!! Thank you so much!!
Love the albino Florida fighting conch! April 19th can’t come soon enough.
Thanks Pam, how exciting to see my shells on your blog. Can’t wait to show Samuel. Great speckled tellin.
Lee & Bill