Sea Shell

[scrumpyak]

I have two Sea Shells that I would like to know more about if possable

The First one has alot of Spines on It.

<img src="http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/1779/cimg1845ue0.jpg" alt="http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/1779/cimg1845ue0.jpg" style="border:0" />

And The Second One

<img src="http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1374/cimg1846dn6.jpg" alt="http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1374/cimg1846dn6.jpg" style="border:0" />

[paul monfils]

The spiny shell is one of several similar species in the genus Murex. I believe this one is Murex acanthostephes from northern Australia. It doesn't have an English name that I know of.

<a href="http://www.gastropods.com/2/Shell_4742.html" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.gastropods.com/2/Shell_4742.html">http://www.gastropods.com/2/Shell_4742.html</a><!-- m --></a>

The other one is Tibia fusus, sometimes called the Spindle Tibia or Shinbone Tibia, a common deep water species from the southwest Pacific area.

<a href="http://www.gastropods.com/4/Shell_234.html" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.gastropods.com/4/Shell_234.html">http://www.gastropods.com/4/Shell_234.html</a><!-- m --></a>

[scrumpyak]

Thanks Paul I just recently started getting curious about the sea shells that I have. Im trying to id most of my current collection. Another one Im curious about is this one.

<img src="http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1973/twistedabalonecw4.jpg" alt="http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/1973/twistedabalonecw4.jpg" style="border:0" />

[paul monfils]

This is (or was!) a Top Shell in the genus Trochus. In its natural state it looked something like this:

<a href="http://www.reef.crc.org.au/research/fishing_fisheries/statusfisheries/harvesttrochus.htm" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.reef.crc.org.au/research/fishing_fisheries/statusfisheries/harvesttrochus.htm">http://www.reef.crc.org.au/research/fis ... rochus.htm</a><!-- m --></a>

Then the outer layer of shell was ground or etched away to reveal the underlying pearl layer, and the shell was polished, so it looked something like this:

<a href="http://www.outerbankssouvenirs.com/browseproducts/Pearled-Trochus-niloticus-ss65b.HTML" target="_blank"><!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.outerbankssouvenirs.com/browseproducts/Pearled-Trochus-niloticus-ss65b.HTML">http://www.outerbankssouvenirs.com/brow ... ss65b.HTML</a><!-- m --></a>

Then the sides of the shell were cut away to make the decorative item you have.