OCEANIC BEAUTY

These all are univalves (one piece shell): This is the better known and highly prized shells found in most collections. They are marine, freshwater and terrestrial snails.
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      Red Abalone
                                                     (Haliotis rufescens)
         NOTE: This is the largest species of abalone in the world.
                                             (12.5 cm.)
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                                            Donkey's Ear Abalone
                                                          (Haliotis asinima)
                                                      (6.5 cm)
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                                                      Rumphius's Slit Shell
                                   (Pleurotomaria rumphii)
NOTE: slit just visible in lower left corner of left shell. Due to it's rarity (deep water and fragile) this is quite a uncommon shell for the average collector to own.
                                             (20 cm.)

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                                                 Talc Limpet
                                            (Cellana talcosa)
                                                   (6.5 cm)

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                    True Limpet: Long-ribbed or Star Limpet
                                     (Patella longicosta)
NOTE: The left and center shell still has it's skin or periostracum in tact.
                                                 (7 cm.)
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   Strawberry Top Shell
                                    (Clanculus puniceus )
          NOTE:   This shell fluoresces under UV light.
                                             (2.5 cm.)
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                                        Common Button Shells
                                       (Umbonium vestiarum)
                 NOTE: This shell fluoresces under UV light.
            (0.75 cm.)
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                                  Commercial Top shell
                                      (Trochus niloticus)
                                              (12.5 cm.)

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                                              Tapestry Turban
                                              (Turbo petholatus)
NOTE: The popular name 'Cat-Eye' ,refers
       to the beauty of the green chalky operculum or trap door.
                                                        (7 cm.)
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                                       Silver-mouth Turban
                                       (Turbo argyrostoma)
NOTE: this shell often has its surface layer stripped off then polished and sold as a mother of pearl turban.
                                                     (7 cm.)
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                                                       Triumph Star Shell
                                    (Guilfordia yoka)
                                         (7 - 10 cm.)
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                                   Common Delphinula
                                   (Angaria delphinius)
NOTE: these shells are often stripped of their surface by acid and sold as mother-of-pearl shells for craft work etc.
                                              (7 cm.)

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                                         Pheasant Shell
                                   (Phasianella australis)
NOTE: This shell fluoresces under UV light
   (5 cm.)
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                                     Bleeding tooth Nerite
                                        (Nerita peloronta)
                                               (5 cm.)
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                                       Polished Nerites
                                         (Nerita polita )
                                            (0.75 cm.)
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Common Periwinkle
(Littorina littorea)

(2.5 cm.)

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Screw Turritela
(Turretela terebra)

(15 cm.)

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                             West Indian Worm Shell
                                    (Turritellidae)
                              (Vermicularia spirata)

(25 - 35 cm.) ________________________________________________

Purple Sailor
(Janthina janthina)

NOTE: This is a floater and due to the light weight and very fragile nature of this shell not many perfect specimens are in collections

(4 cm.)

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Carrier Snails
(Family: Xenophora)
NOTE: its often very difficult to see the actual shell as they glue as many shells, pieces of coral, sponges, pebbles etc to their own shell as they can for camouflage.

(5 - 10 cm.)

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                                 Sunburst Carrier Shell
                                     (Stellaria solaris)
NOTE: this carrier shell does not attach anything to its shell.                                             (8.5 cm.)

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