Shells from Kalba beach in Sharjah, UAE

[dave r]

Hi Karen, I can't get the photos to upload but from your description these would be Murex echinodes, a new species described by my friend Roland Hourt last year. I too had some of these sent from an English friend of mine who lives in Fujairah and were from exactly the same place, I could not place them myself so sent some to him and he informed me of the name and also kindly sent the paper he had published them in.
As to the smell, soak them in a 50/50 bleach and water solution overnight then rinse with clean water.
If you have any to spare I would love to trade some with you for something else, I have many spares!
Dave.