Forums SEASHELL-COLLECTOR

I found this on the beach in French Polynesia. It is about the diameter of a US quarter. I later found larger ones in the market 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Is this just a really worn down shell? The backside is hemispherical and textured but the larger ones in the market were closer in shape to the top of a sand dollar.
What is it?
Thanks,
Eric

Hi Eric,

it's an "operculum" of the snail family Turbinidae. The species of the genus Turbo can "shut the door" by using the operculum (the shell is closed then). Some call it "Shiva's eye".

Kind regards: wolf

Aha! Makes sense. It is so much thicker than the paper thin ones I've seen in California.
Thanks!