After Tropical Storm Debby blew through Southwest Florida last week, things are now calm, the parking lots are cleaned up and I met lots of happy shellers enjoying the sunshine all weekend. I saw MANATEES that were even out socializing…
Remember Barbara from West Virginia who found the JUNONIA on my last post? She was back shelling near the jetty rocks at Blind Pass Captiva when two MANATEES swam right by her. Lucky Lady!
The big pile of shells near the jetty was completely gone but there were still a few keepers rolling in the surf. Candy from Cape Coral found a sweet little SHARK’S EYE…
On the Sanibel side of Blind Pass, there were lots of shellers finding FIGHTING CONCHS and WHELKS…
My dear friend Mary B (she is moving away soon so I’ll miss you Mary!) found a perfect tiny FLAT SCALLOP.
I loved talking to this next family from Ringwood New Jersey! Kevin, Alyssa, Kelly and Bailey have been coming to Sanibel for years and they Love Shelling! They just arrived when I was leaving so I hope they found some goodies.
My fave find of the weekend was this BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN BEAK BONE Super Sheller Clark picked up on the beach.
These are the holes where the teeth were on this side of its jaw bone!
Apparently, this is just one side of the mandible so this bottom right side was broken off the left side of its jaw.
In my research, I couldn’t find out what these holes are for in the next photo. They are definitely not from wear or from another animal so if I were to speculate, I’d say they were for sensory (?)…. but I wouldn’t bet on it. Do you know?
UPDATE : Thank you Karen S and Jeff B for letting us know that the holes in this DOLPHIN BEAK BONE are called “Mental Foramen”. They are the openings for the nerves and blood vessels to pass through….and we (humans) have them too. Again, THANK YOU KS and JB for your comments so we can all learn together!!
Very cool dolphin bone – I love finding stuff like that.
I soooo enjoy your posts…..I have been wanting to visit Sanibel for years….I hope to get there one day…..but for now I will visit from your posts! Thank You! :)
Those are openings for nerves to pass through. We have them, too.
Wow…nice find.
Karen is right. Humans have them and they are called the “Mental Foramen”. Nerve and bloodvessel bundles pass thru them.
Great post Pam.
When will the dredging start so that the shell fountian can begins?
? How do you know when you have found something special like that dolphin beak. I know I would have left it. I already told Kelli we have to find a Junonia. She said “whatever” Less than 2 weeks
That bone is amazing! We still are just getting shell crush up here :-(
Hi Pam. I’m new to shelling here on this awesome island. I’m down from MN with Sherri Bode…she really likes your blog. We had a hard time finding awesome shells. Can you please tell us where we can find some? Thank you so much!!
Hi Sarah, I only found a few olives, fighting conchs and such at Blind Pas last evening but since I’ve been working on my parade float, I haven’t been out today. It’s like TS Debby brought inshellsnfor 2 days then took them right back away. I. So sorry I can’t help you right now. Have you looked for minis at the lighthouse?
Hi. Thanks for posting the pictures. My son found one of these bones today in NC. Wondering if you know from your research how rare it is to find these? Thanks