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Flat Nautilus Spiral

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Flat Nautilus Spiral
06-07-2018, 12:43 AM, (This post was last modified: 06-07-2018, 12:45 AM by Eric Hislop.)
#1
Eric Hislop Offline
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Flat Nautilus Spiral
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


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06-07-2018, 05:26 AM,
#2
wolfi Offline
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RE: Flat Nautilus Spiral
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
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06-08-2018, 03:49 AM,
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Eric Hislop Offline
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RE: Flat Nautilus Spiral
Aha! Makes sense. It is so much thicker than the paper thin ones I've seen in California.
Thanks!
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