CLAMS, SCALLOPS and OYSTER shells. That’s what we’ve been seeing washed up on Sanibel beaches this week. Some experienced beachcombers might think this is a little boring since they have plenty of these bivalves and there weren’t many WHELKS and CONCHS to fill up their shell bag. But we always find interesting things and when Clark and I met Ilene, Dawn, Hudson and Ethan from St Petersburg, FL we saw they weren’t disappointed at this gorgeous evening either.
Ethan picked up an ARK SHELL with a hole in it and began telling me why certain shells drill holes in different areas of other shells. Oh wow- I just did a post on the different holes in shells last month so I wanted to know more. He told me that the further away the hole is from the hinge (what I call the “nose”), the predator mollusk is more stressed. If the predator drills near the hinge, he can get to all of the meat easily…but the shell is thicker there so it may take longer to drill. If the predator mollusk drilling the hole into the other mollusk is pretty desperate, he picks a spot that’s thinner and easier to drill but may not get much meat since the other mollusk might fight back or can slip away easier. A sign of a desperado. Thanks so much for such cool information, Ethan! BTW, Ethan teaches classes about Paleoceanography .
If I didn’t put you asleep on that explanation and you think this stuff is interesting too, here’s a photo of what I’m talking about. See the DOSINIA on the left with the perfect hole in the nose area and then look at the hole in the desperate CALICO CLAM with the hole in the middle of the shell. Why so desperate Mr. Murex? Okay, I’m not positive it’s a MUREX that made the hole but in my humble opinion, it sure looks like an OYSTER DRILL hole (part of the MUREX family). Take a look at my other post What Makes The Different Holes In Seashells?
Okay, lets get back to the beautiful shells… While we were all talking near Lighthouse Beach, Ilene showed me her pretty DOSINIA then I saw Hudson reach down and pick “candy” (juvie HORSE CONCH) right out of the shells at our toes. Clark then made a scoop in the water and pulled out a TRUE TULIP then gave it to them. Hmmmm, the shells looked like they were starting to come in but it was getting too dark to see.
Dawn just posted on iLoveShelling Facebook page this morning that they found all of these shells at Lighthouse Beach. Yes! The WHELKS and CONCHS are finally coming in… not that we were feeling desperate or anything. LOL
Thanks for posting, Dawn! Looks like we are going to be heading to Lighthouse Beach today to find some mermaid treasure but I’m really looking forward to our iLoveShelling cruise to Cayo Costa tomorrow with Captiva Cruises.
Join us and receive a $25 gift certificate for jewelry from Sealife By Congress. Call 239-472-5300 to reserve your spot for 9am.
Cool post Pam.
Dear Pam,
I love it when you throw in some interesting facts about the life cycles and habits of the creatures that create our beautiful shells. Keep on shelling…
Barbara
Fun post! Thanks for chatting with us the other night. To clarify, our finds yesterday were not quite as far east as the lighthouse or the spot where we met you the other night. Little ways down from there but still east. Hoping for good low tide today!
Oh thats right! We ran into you near the Lgihthouse, I was thinking it was gulf side city park- oops! – we’ve been to so many beaches this weekend, its hard to keep straight- LOL
Pam, is your Cayo Costa cruise on August the 14th at 9am a full day or half day shelling cruise?
My birthday is the 8th so I plan to ask for the cruise for my birthday! I might even talk my husband into coming along!
Thanks
Janice
The Cayo costa cruise is a half day 9-12 so please join us! … And ur husband too- honestly, I think he will really enjoy it. Who wouldn’t enjoy boating, spotting sealife and a beautiful island even if hes not a sheller? Lol
Thanks Pam, I talked to him and he says he thinks we’ll head home the 15th/Friday; so that means we will be able to make it on the 14th!!
YIPPEEEEEEE!!!!
Janice from GA (and now part time in St. James City)
Whay a great birthday gift!
I wondered where all our clam shells,oyster,docinas had gotten to. Too hot for them in Cholla Bay, Mex, so they took off to cooler water. You can keep them we have plenty to share. What I want is a wentletrap
PS You can keep the fighting conch – we have way to many.
Janet in Surprise,
AZ
Are there certain times of year when certain shells are more plentiful or more common than others? I’ve been there a few times, always end up with some pretty ones but still haven’t figured out if certain times of year are better than others for tulips, conchs, whelks, sharks eye, sand dollars, etc.
Good question! I suppose some species probably do come in to spawn in shallow water at certain times of year, and stuff like that, but I reckon in general that what you find as dead shells on the beach primarily has to do with the weather. Storms and the waves generated by storms are what pick up “new” shells from somewhat deeper water and push them up onto the beach. Winds from the east however are not helpful, because those winds blow offshore at Sanibel, not on-shore.
Another thing is, that after a blow, once the “fancy” shells do start washing up, the prettiest, largest ones tend to get snapped up very quickly by shellers, so many of the obviously nice shells are already gone within just a few hours of them being cast up.
I love finding seashells where I live in Hilton Head Island SC. It great fun finding
little treasures. I make wonderful creations out of them.
Now we’ll know more about the holes in the shells. That was a beautiful true
tulip that Clark found and gave to the family. Love the mermaid sand sculpture. Hope the shells stay around. Pat
When I saw the teaser for your post I had a thought, you can always find joy if you bring it with you. That is what you do, you find joy in teaching us the simplest things because you bring your zest for life with you into the lesson. Thanks for being you!
… “you can always find joy if you bring it with you”. i LOVE that Mother Earth Marilyn! Thanks for being YOU too! :)