Identification New Jersey #3

[paul monfils]

I don't know of a checklist, but two of the best books you could get are these:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27702...th-america

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDeta...f%2Bcoasts

These are both out of print, and new copies are quite expensive, but used copies are available pretty cheap, like the two listed above. The first book has very nice, realistic full color drawings of the shells, and includes most of the commoner species. The second book is also good to have, but has rather small black & white photographs. It does cover some species that the first book doesn't include.

In general, the beaches that are best for swimming are the worst for shell collecting. Swimming beaches typically have nothing but nice clean sand, no rocks, seaweeds or other types of habitat. But not many mollusks live in that kind of habitat. You will usually find a greater abundance and variety of shells on coasts with rocks and seaweed, jetties, etc. Also, you will find species in muddy areas that you won't find in sandy areas.