Shelling Identification

Horse Conch : Official Florida State Shell

• Colored by deep orange with a white point
• One of the world’s largest shell species
• Size 1” to 12”+

King’s Crown

• It’s named for its distinctive row of spines on its spire
• pointed spiral shell is used extensively in shell craft.
• Also called the Florida CrownConch
• Size 1 – 3 1/2”

Lightning Whelk

• Florida’s only “left handed” spiraling shell
• Streaks on shell resemble flashes of lightning
• Size 2 – 5”

Tulips

• Collector’s Favorite – Banded & True
• Narrow spiraling lines
• Size 4 – 6”

Pen Shell

• Sawtoothed & Stiff Pen, also called Fan Shells
• Thin and delicate outer with iridescent interior
• Size 5 – 11”

Jingle Shell

• Great shell used for wind chimes
• Wide variety of colors making fun to collect
• Size 1/2 – 2”

Slipper Shell : (Snail)

• Concave shape and little “seat” inside
• Atlantic & Spiny Slipper, also named Boat Shells
• Size 3/4 – 2”

Turkey Wing : Ark

• Resembling the feathers of a turkey
• Collector’s – Zebra Ark
• Size 1 3/4 – 3 1/2

Florida Fighting Conch

• Beautiful oranges varying in color tones
• Points on shell resemble spikes worn by Gladiators
• Size 2 1/2 – 4”

Fig

• Thin & fragile rare find
• Decorated with a fine cross hatched pattern
• Size 1 1/2 – 4”

Angel Wing

• Very delicate & bright white rare find
• Collector’s favorite pink interior with bridge
• Size 4 – 8”

Baby’s Ear : Moon Snail

• Small bright white shell with wide opening
• Size 1 – 2”

Wentletrap

• Pattern of ribs on outside shell like a spiral staircase
• Collector’s favorite Angulate, Brown-banded, Lamelose, Humphrey’s
• Size 1/2 – 1 1/2”

Sand Dollar

• Beautiful finds seen as religious & spiritual symbols
• Collectors Arrowhead & Flat Sand
• Little surprise “Dove” are found inside
• Size 1 – 4” Diam.

Cones

• Collectors rare find Alphabet, Crown, Carrot, Mouse
• Beautiful Colors with calming shapes
• Size 3 – 5”

Scallop

• Beautiful variety of colors
• Commonly found Bay, Calico, and Rough Scallops
• Size 2 – 3”

Giant Heart Cockle

• Redfish oranges & heart shaped viewed from the side
• Largest of Florida’s Cockles
• Size 3 – 6”

Cross-barred Venus : Clam

• Commonly found on Florida beaches
• Cross hatched outer shell with purplish interior
• Size 1 – 1 3/4”

Olives

• Colors ranging from glossy browns to yellowish outer shells
• Collector’s favorite – Lettered & Golden Olives
• Size 1 1/2” – 2 1/2”

Cat’s Paw

• Also named Kitten’s Paw
• Small Orange/White shells with strong ribs
• Size 1/2 – 1”

Bubble Shells

• Small delicate shells
• Colors ranging in browns & whites
• Size 1/2 – 3/4”

Sunray Venus : Clam

• Very common in Florida
• Forund at low tide lines
• Size 2 – 5”

Tapered Shells : Several Families

• Worm Shell, Turrets, Augers, Ceriths
• Horn shells horn like opening
• Commonly called Corkscrews
• Size 1/2 – 1 1/2”

Buttercup Lucine

• Great for using in Crafts
• Resembles a Buttercup Flower, Deep yellow interior
• Size 1 – 2”

Common Nutmeg

• Rare find resembling a nutmeg seed
• Beaded outer surface brownish colors
• Size 1 – 2 1/4”

Moon Shells : Snail

• Collector’s favorite – Shark or Cat Eyes
• Strong colors with intense interior blues
• Size 1 – 2 1/2”

Murex

• Collector’s favorite – Apple, Rose, Giant Eastern
• Spectacular spines & frills
• Size 3 – 7”

Button Shell

• Cute smaller shell in the snail family
• Colors ranging form light-grey to mottled brown stripes
• Size .5” – .75”

Calico Clam

• Glossy shell protected from harvesting
• Varying patterns of brown & tan checkerboard-like markings
• Size 2 – 3”

Rough Channeled Duck Clam

• Rare very thin, fragile shell found in the sands above high water line
• broad concentric ribs & more rounded outline
• Size 2 – 5”

Jewel Box

• Small clam found on beach’s water line
• White with spikes & pinkish inside
• Size 1 – 1.5”

Ark Shells

• Boat shaped clam with long, straight hinge lines bearing interlocking grooves
• Varying in browns, grey, whites, and even oranges
• Size 1 – 3”