Aha! Another mystery solved. This is the little bugger that makes some of the holes in our seashells… a tiny little STIMPSON CHIMNEY CLAM. Remember the heart I found carved in this PONDEROUS ARK (from King Neptune)? Well, there must have been two STIMPSON CHIMNEY CLAMS drilling into this shell to make that design or there was one mighty CLAM on a mission from the heart.
Either way you “cut” it, this is one little destructive dude of a STIMPSON CHIMNEY CLAM (Rocellaria stimpsonii) …
I was absolutely thrilled to see both valves of this CLAM together (I know, go ahead and say it LooLoo… I’m a real shell geek LOL)…
So we can have a better understanding of why some shells look like this…
In my post What Makes The Different Holes In Seashells? , I wrote…
“ … these bigger holes most likely were drilled by a STIMPSON CHIMNEY CLAM. Oh, What? You’ve never heard of a STIMPSON CHIMNEY CLAM before? LOL Well, neither had I before I got so curious about what made that heart shape and found out that two separate drilled incidences by these clams are the most likely culprit. When I find a STIMPSON CHIMNEY CLAM, you will be the first one to know about it and I will post a photo. “
Well I didn’t find one but MurexKen did! He found this FLORIDA FIGHTING CONCH with both valves of the STIMPSON CHIMNEY CLAM still remaining in the crevice it carved out when it was still alive. This CLAM doesn’t bore into shells and coral to eat as a food source- it’s a Suspension Feeder so it captures food particles from the water somewhat like a filter feeder. It bores holes into shells and coral to use as a place to live… like a cozy little nest.
Great find MurexKen! Thanks so much for sharing this with me so we can all learn such cool stuff about the the mysteries of our oceans. Now that I know what this shell looks like, I can’t wait to find one of my own (along with the GOLD-BANDED CONE, of course). So catch ya later alligator, out to the beach for a CHIMNEY sweep!
….. & the education keeps coming, ur the best Pam. Thx Ken!
Luv luv luv this post
Happy shelling everyone
& learning!
Mary Ann
East Granby. CT
Terrific view of both valves of this delicate little shell! Thanks Ken and thanks Pam. :)
Of course normally the “chimney” around the clam would prevent your seeing the beautiful fragile little valves that are inside the chimney. I believe I have an intact chimney in an extremely old (yard shell-type) horse conch shell. If I am prepared to take a hammer to it I guess I can break the chimney open and see the valves, assuming I don’t crush them in the process. How did Ken break open this one?
Susan, the fighting conch had a lot of algae on it. Actually, the algae covered much of the shell surface and hid the small bivalve beneath it. When I put the shell in bleach, the algae dissolved and left the small bivalve exposed. Both valves were just laying in the excavated hole when I removed the fighting conch from the bleach and fell into my hand when I turned over the shell. This is the only specimen of the Chimney Clam that I have ever found. I did not even know I had it until after I had bleached the fighting conch.
As for the large “old shells” that we find, the ones that were past their prime at least ten years ago or certainly look that way, Alice and I call them “Garden Shells”. We have a “garden” of old shells in our back yard for decoration. It seems that you do the same thing.
Oh I’m glad you explained it……. when I read the other post mentioning them, I googled and saw this picture which of course looks very different from the shell itself!
http://www.jaxshells.org/rosca.htm
I have always wondered about the holes in shells – thank you so much for the enlightenment! Shells are so diverse and fascinating! Love your blog!
LooLoo!!! Pam – your geekiness is (one of the many things!) what we love about you and how would we learn about such things without you!! :-)
Leaving for Rocky Point this Saturday for10 days-closing up the house until end of Sept . TOOOOO humid for me.
Anyway I will definately look for these little creatures and tell you if I find any on my beach. Stimpson Chimney Clam – bit name for so little a guy.
Janet in Surpise, Az
I have a perfect heart in a piece of brown shell. Love it and love knowing how it got there. Seems the Stimpson Chimney Clam has a romantic side to make so many hearts…or it is a little love from our island.
And all this time I thought it was from starfish. I purposely pick up shells with this kind of hole in them.
Thank you so much for your shell information. I have always wondered about this and like many others, pick up the shells that have these “holes”in them. Actually, I think I may have some of these chimney clams in my shell collection from over all my 50 years of Gulf coast beach walks! Am so excited to be coming to Sanibel again in Nov. for my retirement celebration. Hope I see you there some low tide!
I enjoy this blog so so much. I always wondered how those holes came to be. How darling is this little creature, to bore a hole that fits its body perfectly as a place to live.
Pam, you are a wealth of knowledge about seashells & sea life and the details that encompass them!
Did you happen to go to school for marine biology or take classes on it? Or do you just immerse yourself in books on the subject & learn that way?
At any rate, I’m very thankful for your blog~~