Forums SEASHELL-COLLECTOR

My son and I have been searching online and in guide books, trying to identify these four shells for his school project. Would someone be able to help us?

Thank you in advance for your help!

<a href="http://img200.imageshack.us/i/img7023vm.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/4561/img7023vm.th.jpg" alt="http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/4561/img7023vm.th.jpg" style="border:0" /></a>
<a href="http://img138.imageshack.us/i/img7024w.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1665/img7024w.th.jpg" alt="http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/1665/img7024w.th.jpg" style="border:0" /></a>
<a href="http://img194.imageshack.us/i/img7025a.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9608/img7025a.th.jpg" alt="http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/9608/img7025a.th.jpg" style="border:0" /></a>
<a href="http://img638.imageshack.us/i/img7026t.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/9210/img7026t.th.jpg" alt="http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/9210/img7026t.th.jpg" style="border:0" /></a>

Link to the page includes comments about the sizes of the shells: <a href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jtroop/" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jtroop/">http://profile.imageshack.us/user/jtroop/</a><!-- m --></a>

The last picture looks like a polished Glycymeris reevei, a common Indopacific species.

Here is a picture for comparison: <a href="http://www.dkimages.com/discover/DKIMAGES/Discover/Home/Animals/Invertebrates/Molluscs/Bivalves/Clams/Bittersweet/Reeves-Bittersweet/Reeves-Bittersweet-1.html" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dkimages.com/discover/DKIMAGES/Discover/Home/Animals/Invertebrates/Molluscs/Bivalves/Clams/Bittersweet/Reeves-Bittersweet/Reeves-Bittersweet-1.html">http://www.dkimages.com/discover/DKIMAG ... eet-1.html</a><!-- m --></a>  <span class="petit">--Last edited by mikede on 2010-03-05 17:28:06 --</span>

Hello,

The first one appears to be a Scallop shell, also known as a Pecten, but it has been altered.  A fresh scallop shell has two little tabs that stick out near the pointed end of the shell.  On your shell these have been eroded or broken off. There are many kinds of scallop shells.  This one looks like it may be the common Calico Scallop from Florida and the Caribbean area.  Here's a picture of that species:

<a href="http://www.schnr-specimen-shells.com/4066.JPG" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.schnr-specimen-shells.com/4066.JPG">http://www.schnr-specimen-shells.com/4066.JPG</a><!-- m --></a>

The three shells shown in the next two pictures are all variations of the same species, Strombus urceus, the Little Bear Conch, a very common and quite variable species found all over the western Indo-Pacific region.

The last shell has been artificially polished, which always makes identification more difficult.  I believe it is a species of Glycymeris, a group of clams known as "Bittersweet Clams", but I can't say which species or where it is from with any degree of certainly, due to the polishing.  If you would like some shells for your son's project, I'll be glad to send you some.  Just email me and tell me a little about the project, and I'll send you some nice shells appropriate to what the project is about.

<!-- e --><a href="mailtoaulCyp@cox.net">PaulCyp@cox.net</a><!-- e -->

.  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2010-03-05 07:11:00 --</span>

I had to smile when I saw this picture of Glycymeris reevei with the "X" on it.  Years ago I received a lot of several specimens of this species, each shell having the two valves tied together with some kind of tacky elastic twine, once around the shell, then turned 90 degrees and around the shell again. When I pulled the twine off (with some difficulty - it stuck tight) it left an "X" marking, exactly like the specimen in this picture, and I could never get the marking off.  I tried bleach, various solvents, scouring powder, boiling, etc. Something in that twine must have reacted with the shell surface.  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2010-03-06 05:33:57 --</span>