Did you know that it is possible to find animal paws in the ocean?  That’s right, two different shells are named after the paws of animals. Both are a form of scallop shell.

The first one we will talk about is exceptionally large for a scallop. It has all the right stuff to be a beachcomber’s dream find.  The coveted lion’s paw shell can be up to 6 inches tall, but sadly it is rarely found in really good condition.

The Lion’s Paw seashell (Nodipecten nodosus) has distinct large ridges that make a bumpy fan shape, and the color of the shell is usually dark orange or dull red, but sometimes it will appear purple or a duller pale color.

This big shell in the center is a faded Lions Paw

The kittenspaw seashell is much easier to find and it is pretty small – only an inch or two wide.  I personally have found a few of those (my picture below), but I have never found a Lion’s Paw shell.

Kittens paw seashells