Okinawa cateyes

[paul monfils]

"Cateyes" are not shells as such, which is why they do not have a cavity inside.  They are opercula (singular operculum), a sort of "door" that a snail uses to close the aperture of its shell when it withdraws inside.  There are many types of opercula from various kinds of snails, but the "cateye" opercula are from turban shells.  Here is a neat site on opercula.  Click on an operculum to see an enlarged view; then put the cursor on the enlarged view and see the shell with the operculum in place.  

<a href="http://www.nansaidh.us/operc/" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.nansaidh.us/operc/">http://www.nansaidh.us/operc/</a><!-- m --></a>  

Yours appear to be quite beach worn. Fresh opercula of this type are glossy and colorful on the exterior (convex) side. If you are interested in getting more of these, they are available in bulk from several commercial shell and craft supply dealers, like this one (do onsite search for "cat eye", with a space). (This is just a randomly selected site.  I think you might find them cheaper on some other commercial sites).

<a href="http://www.seashellworld.com/" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.seashellworld.com/">http://www.seashellworld.com/</a><!-- m --></a>  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2010-01-24 19:55:54 --</span>