Seashell Identification

Types of Shells In Florida:

Seashell Identi cation

Guide

SANDDOLLARSHELLING.COM

SEASHELL IDENTIFICATION

It lurks nearly a foot beneath the dunes of Sanibel Island. Its brown spotted

exterior provides camou age, making it a challenge to spot. Though small,

this elusive specimen is a rare and valuable jewel, waiting to be discovered.

We’re talking, of course, about the elusive Junonia shell, a rare beauty that

you can add to your collection of Florida seashells after a day spent shelling

on the beach.

Florida is full of unique and gorgeous shells, some of which can only be found

in the ten thousand islands region. But how will you know which shell is

which after a day spent scouring the beaches?



If you’re curious about the kinds of shells that you might nd after an

excursion to one of the best seashell beaches in Florida, you’re in luck.

Read our Florida seashell identi cation guide for a list of seashells (including

shell names), and to learn about the shells you can nd on the beaches of

Florida, Marco Island, and Sanibel Island.



Why Should I Go Shelling in Florida?

Shelling is a decades-old activity that is just as fun for kids as it is for adults.

Native residents of Florida’s islands have been nding and crafting with

seashells for generations. Shelling is essentially an all-natural treasure hunt,

with every nd being a unique, natural specimen from the ocean.



Beaches are naturally impermanent. They change with the tide and the

weather. You cannot walk on the same beach two days in a row, which

means the shells that are available to nd are constantly in ux.

Florida is unique because it is surrounded by islands, and the shape and

location of these islands make them ideal depositories for shells. Two of the

best islands for shelling are Sanibel Island and Marco Island. While Sanibel is

accessible by a causeway, Marco Island is only accessible by boat.



How Do I Find Shells in Florida?

In some cases, you only need to walk along the coast to nd perfect shells

washing up on the shore. In other cases, you may need to put a little work in

and do some digging. The rare Junonia is one such shell that might involve a

little work.



If you’re hoping for rare shells, it’s wise to go shelling with a guide. An

experienced sheller can use what they know about science to help you locate

rare and beautiful shells. The locals are experts!

If you want to improve your odds, one tip is to set out early in the morning,

especially during low tide or after a storm. Summer is the best season for

this. Plan to go to more than one beach to nd the widest selection, or

choose a secluded island, such as Marco Island.



What Types of Seashells Can I Find in Florida?

On the abstract, there are two basic types of shells that you are likely to nd

while out on a shelling excursion in Florida. These types are bivalve shells and

gastropod shells. Seashell identi cation and seashell classi cation become

easier when you sort them into these categories rst.

Types of Seashells: Bivalve Shells

Bivalve shells are single shells with two parts. Each part is considered a valve,

which is why we call them bivalves! A clam shell is the most common

example, but cockles and scallops also live inside of bivalve shells.

When bivalve shells wash up on beaches, it’s common to nd only one-half of

the shell. While it’s rarer to nd both halves still attached, it’s not impossible.

Usually, both halves are symmetrical, if not identical.

Bivalve shells tend to be common on Florida beaches, but they are no less

beautiful or exciting to nd!

Types of Seashells: Gastropod Shells

Gastropod shells are also single shells, but they do not have two parts. When

you nd a gastropod shell, you have always found the complete shell. The

most traditional example of a gastropod shell is a conch shell, but whelks

also commonly live in gastropod shells.



Gastropod shells are typically home to snails. When you nd one, it’s

important to check and make sure that it is not occupied by a living (or

recently deceased) snail!

These shells come in three typical shapes: oblong, globose, and depressed. In

simpler terms, gastropod shells can be long and thin, round and spherical, or

round and at. No matter the shape, they are all beautiful and unique

treasures!

Gastropod shells tend to be rarer, so you may need to consult

Florida Seashell Identi cation Guide

Now that you’re familiar with the basics of shelling, and can categorize shells

into broader categories, it’s time to get speci c. The following Florida Shell

Identi cation guide will teach you about the rare and prized shells you are

likely to nd on Florida’s beaches if you are patient!

Seashell names (speci cally, types of shells in Florida) will be listed below.

This guide will also help with rare seashell identi cation.

Junonia Shells

Junonia shells are some of the rarest types of shells in Florida, but they’re out

there! When identifying seashells that you think might be Junonia, look for an

o -white, oblong gastropod shell with brown spots that look like watercolor

paint.



This shell houses a yellow, spotted snail that lives deep on the ocean oor,

which is part of what makes the shell so rare.

These shells are typically small, which makes them challenging to spot when

they do wash up. The largest recorded Junonia shell was only six inches long,

and most are considerably smaller!

These shells are also fragile and do tend to wash up on the shore in pieces. If

you have found an intact Junonia shell, you have had some great luck!

Murex Shells

The Murex shell is distinctive, with a white and pink exterior. You can tell

these Florida shells by their spikes, tail, and pleasant pink interior. They are

gastropod shells, each with a unique shape.

These shells are home to the Murex snail, also known as the rock snail. These

are some of the oldest seashells, having been named by the ancient Greek

philosopher Aristotle!

These shells are very delicate, due to their unique spikes. As a result, you

would be lucky to nd one with the spikes intact. More often than not, they

break o before reaching the shore.

Conch Shells

The Conch is another rare and beautiful gastropod shell found in Florida.



Conch shells are medium to large in size and can be identi ed by their two

distinct points. It is di cult to identify a shell by color, as they tend to be

unique.

The Conch shell is home to a variety of di erent sea snails. Conchs are a little

more ambiguous, as the word “conch” itself comes from the Latin and Greek

for “Shell sh.”

Sand Dollar Shells

Sand dollars are incredibly distinctive, with a thin, at, circular shape and a

ve-pointed star shape imprinted on top. After exposure to the sun, sand

dollars become bleached. This creates a pristine white color.

Sand dollars are actually a kind of sea urchin! They are just as

they’re alive, and burrow on the ocean oor.

at when

Worm Snail Shells

If you’ve found something that looks like a piece of spiral pasta that has

washed up on the beach, you probably have a worm snail shell. These

gastropod shells are known for their distinctive thin, spiral shape, which ends

in a pointed tip.

The worm snail that makes its home out of these shells is also known as a

Vermetidae. A large enough collection of these worm tubes can form

a sponge colony, and create a coral reef!



Lightning Whelk Shells

The lightning whelk is the state shell of Texas, but it can still be found

washing up on Florida’s beaches. These gastropod shells can grow to be quite

large, with the largest specimens measured at sixteen inches! They tend to be

yellow, grey, white, or tan with a left-handed tail.

These shells are home to predatory sea snails. Early Island natives have used

these shells to create lamps and tools.

Florida Spiny Jewelbox Shells

The Florida Spiny Jewelbox is also known as Arcinella cornuta. It is a bivalve

shell that is home to a clam. It is a thick, heavy, white shell with a pink or red

interior that can be identi ed by its tows of pleated ribs.

These shells are predominantly found along Florida’s coast. They make their

home in the local coral reefs. You are unlikely to nd this unique shell

anywhere else in the world!

Coquinas Shells

Coquinas shells are tiny bivalve shells that come in a wide range of colors and

patterns. Most coquinas shells are no bigger than a dime! You need to be

careful when gathering these shells, as their size makes them more likely to

wash up on shore alive.



Coquins shells can be blue, pink, purple, orange, brown, or some

combination. It’s their unique coloration that makes these little shells such

treasures.

Jingle Shells

It’s easy to distinguish a jingle shell by its paper-like translucence. Jingle shells

are named for the sound they make when shaken, and come in a range of

colors.

They tend to have a wrinkled texture and a pleasant, almost polished sheen.

Because of the way they look, they are sometimes known as “Mermaid’s

toenails.”

Olive Shells

Olive shells come in an elongated oval shape and tend to bleach white in the

sun. They have a distinctive stepped spire. These petite shells are shiny and

rarely grow larger than about three inches. They are home to the olive snail,

which is a sea snail that is common in the Floridian waters.

Calico Scallop Shells

These fan-shaped bivalve shells come in a diverse assortment of colors and

patterns. They can be distinguished by their radial uted ridges. They are

brightly colored, and no two Calico Scallops look alike!



Spotted Slipper Shells

Spotted slipper shells are sometimes called boat shells because, when held

upside down, they resemble tiny, at-decked ships. They also look a little bit

like a slipper! They are white shells with unique brown colored streaks.

These shells are home to the spotted slipper snail and don’t grow much

larger than two inches. A unique facet of these shells is that, after two years

of oating, they can attach to other empty shells. A cluster of spotted slippers

is a unique nd!

Cockle Shells

A cockleshell is a bivalve shell, and one of the most common nds on Florida

beaches. They can be confused for scallop shells, but are actually home to a

unique mollusk called a cockle. A true cockle has a heart-shaped shell that is

rounded on the top.

These common shells can grow to be fairly big, and a large, intact cockle shell

is an exciting nd for any collector!

Keyhole Limpet Shells

A keyhole limpet shell can be distinguished by its conical shape and keyhole

‘opening’ at the very top, with radial ridges. When the limpet is alive, the hole

is how waste and water exit the shell.



Limpets are fans of rocky shores and are fairly common in North America.

There are 35 di erent species of limpet in North America, and many of them

make their home in the south Atlantic!

Tulip Banded Shells

The banded tulip shell is a spindle-shaped ivory or gray gastropod shell with

swirling brown bands or stripes. Some tulip shells can grow quite large, and

are an exciting nd for collectors!

Turkey Wing Shells

These shells can be distinguished by their unusual “turkey wing” shape, which

looks like the outstretched wing of a bird. They have interesting curves, but

one side of a turkey wing shell is often completely straight. These shells tend

to have rows of swirling brown stripes that form unique patterns.

These shells are home to the turkey wing arc clam, also known as a zebra

clam, due to the stripes. If you have found a clam that looks like a cross

between a turkey and a zebra, it’s most likely a turkey wing shell!

Wentletraps Shells

Wentletrap shells are also known as staircase or ladder shells because of

their delicate and unique structure. These gastropod shells are white and

polished, similar to porcelain. They almost always have a high, pointed spire.



Wentletrap shells are home to a very small parasitic marine snail. As a result,

these shells can be tiny!

These shells were once very rare, but a patient sheller can

Florida beaches!

nd them on

Ceriths Shells

Ceriths shells are small gastropod shells, rarely larger than an inch in size.

They are narrow, spired shells, often with a brown striping pattern. They are

also known as horned shells.

Ready to Go Shelling?

Florida beaches are beautiful year-round, and it’s never a bad time to search

for Florida Seashells on Marco Island.

If you’re ready for a rewarding natural treasure hunt, the seashell guide

above will de nitely get you started!

If you want an in-person guide, book a tour with Captain Joey at Sand Dollar

Shelling.

More than just a boat taxi, you can enjoy a guided shelling adventure on one

of Florida’s most pristine shelling beaches!


CONTACT US

We specialize in creating unforgettable

memories on our Marco Island shelling and

dolphin boat tours. Dolphins riding the boat

wake typically accompanies our ten thousand

island boat tours.

Sand Dollar Shelling

Address: 750 Palm Point Drive Marco Island, FL

34145, United States

Phone: +1-239-301-8913

Email: info@sanddollarshelling.com


Seashell Identification

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