Seashell Identification: How I Got Started

Continued from the front page:

Our collection grew – especially when we vacationed on Sanibel Island on the gulf coast of Florida, which is one of the 3 top spots for shell collecting in the world.

I kept my collection in a big glass bowl that I bought at the dollar store. I never had a clue as to what they were called. They were just “shells” to me.
I brought them with me when I moved back to the northeast and they sat in that glass bowl for years.
When I began photographing my shells to sell on stationary and gift items, I realized that it would be helpful if I could accurately identify them.

Although I have managed to dig up some info on the internet, I ended up buying a book to help with identification, because there just isn’t much out there that isn’t too scientific and boring for the regular shell collectors like me. So if you are looking for science info and Latin names, this isn’t the place to look, but I will link to people and sites who know such things.

Just Click on the link below to see photos and read about a particular shell. I have pages written about “the Sand Dollar” and “Sea Star (starfish)” too, although they are not shells.
The list will continue to grow as I add more of my photos, so please bookmark the page.

Florida Lightning Whelk - A “left handed” seashell
Natica Lineata & Babylonia Spirata …Shells with stripes and spots
Pink Murex
Strawberry Conch -Small cone
Lettered Olive
Sand Dollars- More than one type
Jingle Shells- translucent
Elegant Dosinia -or Disk?
Pen Shell- Can be a foot long
Jujonia -A treasure
Spiny Jewel Box
Gibbose (Brown) Olive Shell
Atlantic Auger
Atlantic Kitten’s Paw
Cowry Shells – Used as currency
Sand Dollars and Star Fish/Sea Stars which are not shells