- The Junonia – a spotted shell found in the Gulf area beaches
- The Lion’s Paw scallop, which is much larger than an ordinary scallop shell
- The Scotch Bonnet shell
What kind of shell is Junonia?
Junonia Shells. This shell is greatly prized for its beauty and apparent rarity by sea shell collectors. Its milky chamber is covered with brown spots on the outside, and the animal that occupies the shell is likewise marked.
How do you get Junonia shells to shore?
Therefore, it takes a thunderstorm or a strong current to take Junonia shells to shore. Junonia shells can sometimes be brought to shore by shrimping boats as bycatch. Either way, they’re hard to find barring a recent hurricane.
Where do Junonia sea snails live?
The Junonia sea snail lives miles offshore, in water between 30 and 130 meters deep! So it’s very rare for the waves to roll them all the way to the beach without being damaged. Why are Junonia shells spotted? We don’t know for sure, but their mottled coloring probably helps them camouflage. What else is distinctive about Junonias?
Where did Susie McElheny find this rare Junonia shell?
PANAMA CITY BEACH — Susie McElheny has been on the search for a junonia shell for three years, and on Aug. 12, she made the rare find at St. Andrews State Park to add to the thousands of other shells in her collection. "She is 10 and loves shelling, like her mom.
Why is the Junonia shell rare?
1) Junonia It's a very fragile shell, so don't be surprised if you only find fragments of it on the beach. The reason it's so rare is because it's a deep water shell only stirred up by storms. You will never find a live Junonia unless you dive for it. These shells currently sell on eBay or Etsy for over $150 USD.
What is the rarest seashell in Florida?
JunoniaWhat is the Rarest Shell in Florida? The rarest shell is the Junonia, also known as the Scaphella junonia.
What is a Junonia shell worth?
Well the largest Junonia shells, above 110mm, can reach high value, above $100. They can be found in the USA in Florida, Texas, Mexico. The record size for a Junonia shell is 154mm ! Of course, such a record specimen would be found at a very high level if ever on the market again !
Where are Junonia shells on Sanibel Island?
The Junonia Sanibel Island is also home to the world's largest Junonia shell which can be found at Sanibel Sea Shell located at 1544 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
What is the best beach in Florida to find seashells?
The Best Shelling Beaches in FloridaTigertail Beach.South Beach on Marco Island.Cedar Key.Caladesi Island State Park.Captiva Island.Shell Island Near Panama City Beach.Jupiter Island.Fernandina Beach.More items...•
Why you shouldn't pick up shells?
In a study more than 30 years in the making, researchers have found that the removal of shells from beaches could damage ecosystems and endanger organisms that rely on shells for their survival.
Where can I find Junonia shell in Florida?
Junonia shells can be found on beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. They are most commonly found in Southwest Florida. The world's largest Junonia was found in Florida, and today lives in Sanibel! If you're looking to maximize your shell hunt (and find shells other than Junonias), visit Marco and Sanibel Islands.
What is the rarest shell on earth?
Glory of the Sea ConeThe Conus Gloriamaris or 'Glory of the Sea Cone' as it is more commonly known, is one of the most expensive and rarest seashells in the world.
Why does Sanibel Island have so many shells?
A Unique Geography. The reason why Sanibel Island and Captiva Island beaches in particular are filled with shells is because both are barrier islands that are part of a large plateau in the Gulf of Mexico. A ground level swell pushes shells to this natural “shelf” and on to its beaches largely in tact.
What is the best month for shelling on Sanibel Island?
Although January, February and March are some of the best months to go shelling on Sanibel and Captiva, Stefanie Wolf, a marine biologist at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, said that because of the high winds the islands have been experiencing this spring, now is an opportune time to go shelling.
What is the best shelling beach on Sanibel Island?
Turner BeachTurner Beach is the best shelling beach on Sanibel and the Captiva islands. Its low amount of tourists and rare variety of seashells makes it a paradise for all shellers. Whether this will be the start of your collection or furthering your current one, make the trip past all the other astounding beaches.
Where can I find sand dollars in Florida?
The beaches along the emerald coast of Florida have 2 sandbars – referred to as the 1st Sandbar and 2nd Sandbar. A great way to find live sand dollars is to swim out to the second sandbar with a paddleboard or raft. The second sandbar is located roughly 500 feet from the shore.
Where do Junonia snails live?
The types of shells that can be readily found on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva come from animals that live close to shore. The Junonia sea snail lives miles offshore, in water between 30 and 130 meters deep!
Who is the scientist who collected Junonia snails?
In February 2018, Museum Marine Biologist Rebecca Mensch set out to collect a live Junonia snail during a four-day research cruise with former Museum Board Member Dr. Gregory Herbert, funded by the Florida Institute of Oceanography and the University of South Florida's School of Geosciences.
Where is the Junonia shell found?
Rare junonia shell found at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach. PANAMA CITY BEACH — Susie McElheny has been on the search for a junonia shell for three years, and on Aug. 12, she made the rare find at St. Andrews State Park to add to the thousands of other shells in her collection. "She is 10 and loves shelling, like her mom.
Where is Susie McElheny's Junonia shell?
PANAMA CITY BEACH — Susie McElheny has been on the search for a junonia shell for three years, and on Aug. 12, she made the rare find at St. Andrews State Park to add to the thousands of other shells in her collection. "She is 10 and loves shelling, like her mom.
What is Linda Brunner doing with sea urchin shells?
In preparation for next year's Shell Show, Linda Brunner has been making bears from sea urchin shells and craft pom-poms, as well as other floral shell ornaments. Many of the shells and creations were lost during Hurricane Michael in October 2018, and the Brunners have been busy sorting through shell donations.
Where do wedding shells come from?
But, Linda Brunner explained, those shells are usually from the Pacific Ocean. Upon hearing about the other native shells found near the junonia, the couple agreed the last beach renourishment is the most likely explanation ...
Where is Juno Volute?
The Scaphella junonia, aka Juno Volute, shell was found about 1 foot beneath the sand's surface, closer to the dunes. "We were shelling there three or four hours. I was digging with a broken lightning whelk that was as big as my head," Susie said.
Where did the McElhenys shell?
In addition to Northwest Florida and Sanibel, the McElhenys have been shelling in the Bahamas, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos, and Foley Beach, South Carolina — where they found their first large lightning whelk together.
Where to find a horse conch in Florida?
Bay Side of Shell Island: The Florida Horse Conch can be found in bays to 90 feet offshore. The Jetties: Find Terebras, Spiny Oysters, Deer Cowry, and, occasionally, Hairy Tritons.
3hr Guided Shelling Tour
More time to look for rare shells on two different barrier island beaches.
6hr Guided Shelling Tour
Our six-hour tour gets to more remote islands to go where other shellers can’t!
Each shelling tour is custom-tailored for you
Our captains are all current US Coast Guard certified Master Captains.
What are the most common shells in Sanibel?
7 Most Common Sanibel Shells. Scallop Shells. You’ve seen these white scallop shells. They cover the beaches on Sanibel! There are multiple shells that fall under this category, including the Transverse Ark and Ponderous Ark, which look similar, but are in fact different shell-types. Scallop Shells – Wikimedia Commons.
What kind of conch is in Sanibel?
Again, there are many different types of conch. The ones more commonly found on the beaches of Sanibel are the smaller fighting conch shells (small and wide), the kings crown conch (more spikes on crown), and the horse conch (slim spiral body) which I read might not actually be a part of the true conch family.
What is a staircase shell called?
Wentletraps Shells. These snail shells are sometimes called “staircase shells”, and “ladder shells”. In Dutch, Wenteltrap means spiral staircase. This would be a rare find on our beaches.
What is a lion's paw shell called?
The Lion’s Paw is large and usually a vibrant red or orange color. Lion’s Paw Shell – Wikimedia Commons. Wentletraps Shells. These snail shells are sometimes called “staircase shells”, and “ladder shells”.
Is Murex a rare shell?
Murex Shells. While maybe the Murex family of shells aren’t an extremely rare shell on Sanibel, they are very fragile shells, and therefore, hard to find a full-sized shell in good condition. The Murex Pecten, pictured below, is extremely fragile. While other’s in the family, like the Apple Murex, has a stronger shell.
What is a Junonia shell?
The Junonia – a spotted shell found in the Gulf area beaches. The Lion’s Paw scallop, which is much larger than an ordinary scallop shell. The Scotch Bonnet shell. Rare shells can also include a shell that is built differently than the norm.
Where to find Junonia shells in Florida?
Sanibel Island is the one of the best places to find shells here in Florida. It ranks among the top shelling spots IN THE WORLD. Because of the abundance of shells, finding rare shells is more likely, such as the pretty, spotted Junonia shell. The Junonia shell is unmistakable.
What is the orange scallop shell called?
The image below, from Wikimedia, with creative commons license to share, is an orange scallop shell called a “Lion’s Paw”. Huge Lion’s Paw scallop.
Where can I find Calico scallops?
The Calico scallop can be found on all beaches in Florida, and is not considered rare. I added the image here to show the similarities with the Lion’s Paw. An outstanding feature of the Lion’s Paw scallop shell is that the ridges are wider and more widely spaced than a normal scallop.
What is a lion's paw shell?
The Lion’s Paw shell ( Nodipecten nodosus) is coveted by collectors. It can be as large as 6 inches across. Large shells are often what people want to find while roaming a beach. I have never found one of these amazing seashells. In fact, where I live on the East coast of Florida, I rarely find any type of scallop shell, but when I do, they usually look like the one below. The Calico scallop can be found on all beaches in Florida, and is not considered rare. I added the image here to show the similarities with the Lion’s Paw.
What is Junonia shell?
Junonia Shells. This shell is greatly prized for its beauty and apparent rarity by sea shell collectors. Its milky chamber is covered with brown spots on the outside, and the animal that occupies the shell is likewise marked.
Where to find shells in Florida?
Florida Shell Guide. The beaches on Anna Maria Island are perfect for shelling and beach combing. The best times to look for shells are after a high tide, after a storm, in the morning, and during the winter months. Sand dollars are easily found during low tide on the beach near by the Sandbar Restaurant. The following shells are commonly found on ...
What is the color of the fighting conch shell?
Conch Shells. Fighting conchs are the type of conch most commonly found on beaches. While alive, the seashell is a bright orange, but will fade under the bright tropical sunshine. Conch harvesting is now illegal in the state.
What is a slipper shell called?
Spotted slipper shells are often called "boat" shells. When upside down, it looks like an old sailing ship with a flat deck. After 2 years of floating loose, they will attach themselves to a rock or empty shell.
What is an olive shell?
Olive Shell. Named for its elongated oval shape, the olive comes in a variety of colors and variations, and often sports a glossy finish. Olive shells will sun-bleached white and rarely grow beyond three inches long.
What do worm snails look like?
Worm snails are very irregular elongated tubular shells, and look like spaghetti stuck to a rock. Sometimes billions of worm tubes can build an actual reef. A large reef like that forms a barrier to a group of small islands called the Ten Thousand Islands.
How big do lightning whelks get?
Lightning whelks grow up to 16 inches long , and were used by early island natives for boh food and tools, most commonly as lamps. This species has a left-handed or sinistral shell.
