Found this great nature photography blog by Pete Hillman and he kindly gave me permission to re-blog this post about the limpet. Enjoy, and be sure to visit his site to enjoy his amazing photography. He likes to photograph seashells too!
Tag: about
The Jewel Box Seashells Are Leafy, Spiny and Corrugated
This is a picture of my spiny jewelbox seashells. I don’t have many and they are simply call Spiny Jewelbox (Arcinella cornuta). They are white with spikes or ridges (if the spikes have worn down) and the inside is pinkish. These are found on both Florida coasts, but mainly along the Gulf Coast and Keyes area. Many may not have spines because they get broken and worn off by the action of the sea.
This shell is a bi-valve, which means it comes in two parts. Â It is rare to find any bi-valves that are still attached along the beach because the action of the waves tends to break the shells apart. Â Also, some bi-valves live attached to something, like wharf pilings or rocks, and that part stays put as the upper half may break off. Â This is the case when you find a kittenpaw shell.
Other types of Jewelbox shells, which I may have collected at some point when I had no idea what I was picking up, look a bit different than mine. Â In fact, some do not have spines or spikes, but are still rather bumpy looking. The Leafy Jewelbox (Chama macerophylla) has many flattened, thin ridges (unless they are worn – then they are bumpy) and can be colorful purple and orange or bright yellow.
There is also a Corrugate Jewelbox (or Little Corrugated Jewelbox) which is small, growing only to around one inch in size. Â It is a flatter, bumpy shell without such distinct ribs as in the spiny variety. Â Both of these can be collected on most Florida coastlines, although you may have to search harder on the east coast where shells are more sparse. Â These shells are small, whereas the others can be up to three inches in size.
The Atlantic Left-Handed Jewelbox (Pseudochama radians) is also known as the False Jewelbox and I really don’t know much about that one except that it is found from North Carolina to Brazil.
If you live on the west coast of the U. S., you may find the Clear Jewel Box (Charma arcana) seashell along your coastline. It looks a lot like the Leafy Jewel Box except that it is not as colorful but may be tinged with pink or orange.
What are the spines and “leafy parts” for? It helps protect them from other seashell predators who may want to drill into the shell and eat what is inside. Yup, that’s what they do!
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The Left-Handed Seashell is the Florida Lightning Whelk
Pictures and information about the lightning whelk marine snail which is a rarely found sinistral shell.
One pretty seashell you may find if vacationing along coast of Florida is the lightning whelk (Busycon contrarium).
It is commonly found along the southern United States beaches from the Carolinas to Texas, and is the state shell of Texas.
The Rare Sinistral Seashell
The shell is easily recognizable by the tan or gray color with darker stripes and the fact that the opening is on the left side of the shell. It is one of the only gastropods (shells in one piece) to have this unique, sinistral aperture feature.
The lightning whelk lives in shallow, sandy areas and prefers warm water. This makes Florida the perfect location to call home.
It may be easier to collect an empty lightning whelk shell while visiting the gulf coast area. This is because Sanibel Island, located on the west coast, is known as one of the best shelling places in the world. But the lightning whelk can also be found on the East Coast. You may have to travel away from the ocean seashore to find one. The inner waterway / rivers are where I’ve found it.
Pinkish lightning whelk 
Broken Lightning Whelk Shell – Approx. 5 inches long 
Living Lightning Whelk 
Lightning Whelk snail 
The Left-Handed Lightning Whelk 
Live lightning whelk anchored in the sand 
Lightning Whelk drawing 
Found a big lightning whelk seashell in the river
I’ve come across lightning whelks on islands along the Intracoastal waterway. While boating and fishing, I usually get out and explore the muddy flats when the tide is low. This is an excellent time to find living sea life. Usually the shells are inhabited either by the mollusk or a hermit crab.
Live Lightning Whelk Snails
Below are a couple of photos of one such shell I found while walking the flats. This whelk had a pretty white top while the rest of the shell was more dark gray. I would have loved to collect it, but as you can see, the little guy who created that beautiful specimen was still using it as his home.
That yellowish hard piece is the operculum, or trapdoor, which shuts the snail inside the shell. It is made to fit perfectly within the aperture so no fleshy parts are exposed.
I always bring my camera because most of the shells I find offshore while boating contain living creatures. I seldom find anything but worn, broken shells to bring home.
The Pear Whelk is a Similar Looking Shell
A similar looking shell that I also find is the pear whelk. Â It has a very similar shape, but it’s opening is on the right, like most gastropod shells. Â So far, every one I’ve found has been home to a hermit crab, but I always take photos.
All the shells below are not lighting whelks, but pear whelks. They do not get as large.
Lightning and Pear Whelks 
This pear whelk could have been empty, but more likely a hermit crab was tucked down inside. 
Little Yellow Pear Whelk Shell – Home to a Hermit Crab 
Pear whelk seashell with hermit crab inside 
The snail is beginning to come out of the shell
Although the lightning whelk can grow to be very large, there is one that is even larger. The Florida horse conch can have the lightning whelk for dinner!
So what is the difference between a whelk and a conch? Â I intend to answer that soon.
Help yourself to this free printout of a lightning whelk shell outline.
