tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-272305572024-03-08T00:08:53.564-08:00Encyclopedian Dictionary ( North Carolina Sea Shells )Embracing the whole circle of learning, or a wide range of subjects.<br>(Source: <em>Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary</em>, published 1913 by C. & G. Merriam Co.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1168630293717225342007-01-12T11:31:00.000-08:002007-01-12T11:31:36.000-08:00AquacultureI've started a new blog on Aquaculture, and will include photography there, as well as this blog. <a title="Seagulls" href="http://aqua-culture.blogspot.com/2007/01/seagulls.html" target="_top">Snapshots of Seagulls</a> and <a title="beachdrift" href="http://aqua-culture.blogspot.com/2007/01/beachdrift.html" target="_top">Beachdrift</a><br /><br />I got a new camera which has high resolution, so I'll be making full use of that in the future when photographing shells!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1159362179899011752006-09-27T06:01:00.000-07:002006-09-27T06:03:00.310-07:00Origin of Cetaceans<p><em>New Addition to Web</em><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/whales/evolution_of_whales/" target="_top">The Evolution of Whales</a><br />Based on National Geographic's sensational article from November 2001, by Douglas H. Chadwick, Shawn Gould and Robert Clark, <em>The Evolution of Whales</em>. Overview of whale origins. Includes illustrations based on fossil progressions in transitional whales and dolphins. Additional comments from early whale expert and Paleontologist, J.G.M. Thewissen, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine.</p><br /><center><img alt="Whale Origins" src="http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k168/dave_matson/evolution/whales_evolutionary_tree.gif" border="0" /></center><br /><br />"Pakicetid fossils were important in determining what whales were related to, and they were used to rebuke the idea that whales were closely related to an extinct group of hoofed mammals called mesonychians. These fossils confirmed what was already suggested by scientists studying the DNA of modern whales: that whales’ closest relatives are even-toed ungulates (artiodactyls, such as pig, hippo, camel, deer, and cows). Current research in the Thewissen lab attempts to determine how .. pakicetids locomoted in water and on land."<br />Source: Origin of Whales, <a href="http://darla.neoucom.edu/DEPTS/ANAT/Thewissen/whale_origins/whales/Pakicetid.html" target="_blank">Thewissen Lab Webpage</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1148622764241308592006-05-25T22:50:00.000-07:002006-05-25T22:52:44.796-07:00Wentletraps -Angulate vs. Humphrey<p style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/wentletrap/wentletrap_10.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/wentletrap/wentletrap_10_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/wentletrap/wentletrap_19.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/wentletrap/wentletrap_19_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/wentletrap/wentletrap_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/wentletrap/wentletrap_02_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/wentletrap/wentletrap_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/wentletrap/wentletrap_03_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/wentletrap/" target="_top">More Images</a><br /><br /><strong><em>Humphrey vs. Angulate?</em></strong><br /><br /><p>Gastropod</p><p>Auger-Shaped - wentletraps (Epitoniidae)</p><p><strong>Angulate Wentletrap</strong> <em>Epitonium angulatum</em> (Say)<br /><strong>Description</strong>: (1 inch) High, slender, glossy spire. Each whorl with nine to 10 strong ribs, each slightly angled on the whorl shoulder. Smooth spaces between ribs. Round aperture. Operculum. <strong>Color</strong>: Shiny white interior and exterior. Reddish brown operculum.<br /><strong>Habitat</strong>: Occasionally found in drift on ocean beaches.<br /><strong>Range</strong>: New York to Uruguay.<br /><strong>Notes</strong>: (See brown-band wentletrap Notes) : Also called lined wentletrap. About 24 kinds of wentletraps have been recorded in North Carolina waters. A carnivore, it forages in sand for sea anemones and tears tissue with its jaws. It secretes a substance that turns purple and may anesthetize the anemones. Females lays strings of sand-covered egg capsules. Its young are free-swimming. The precious wentletrap (up to 2 3/4 iches long) from the Pacific Ocean is one of the prettiest shells known.</p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://north-carolina-sea-shells.blogspot.com/2006/05/humphrey-wentletrap-epitonium.html" target="_top"><img alt="humphrey wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0026_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /><br />Humphrey Wentletrap Images</a></p><br /><p><strong>Humphrey Wentletrap</strong> <em>Epitonium humphreysii</em> (Kiener)<br /><strong>Description</strong>: (3/4 inch) Small, high-spired shell. Very similar to angulate wentletrap in appearance, habitat and numbers, but eight to nine rounded ribs on each whorl thicker and not angulate at shoulder. Also, generally more slender with a thicker lip on round aperture. Smooth spaces between ribs. Operculum.<br /><strong>Color</strong>: White exterior and interior. Mahogany-colored operculum.<br /><strong>Habitat</strong>: Occasionally found in drift on ocean beaches.<br /><strong>Range</strong>: Massachusetts to Texas.<br /><strong>Notes</strong>: (See brown-band wentletrap Notes) : Also called lined wentletrap. About 24 kinds of wentletraps have been recorded in North Carolina waters. A carnivore, it forages in sand for sea anemones and tears tissue with its jaws. It secretes a substance that turns purple and may anesthetize the anemones. Females lays strings of sand-covered egg capsules. Its young are free-swimming. The precious wentletrap (up to 2 3/4 iches long) from the Pacific Ocean is one of the prettiest shells known.<br />Source: <em>Seashells of North Carolina</em>, <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> College Program</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1148602692978495582006-05-25T17:07:00.000-07:002006-05-25T17:18:14.320-07:00Common Nutmeg Cancellaria reticulata (Linnaeus)This shell came about from beach-combing,and a lady I met on the beach gave it to me. I've never found a common nutmeg shell before, so I had only one shell to share images of. This shell appears to match the shape, description and image found in the NC Sea Grant Seashell field guide.<br /><br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/common_nutmeg/common_nutmeg_22.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="common nutmeg" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/common_nutmeg/common_nutmeg_22_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/common_nutmeg/common_nutmeg_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="common nutmeg" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/common_nutmeg/common_nutmeg_04_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/common_nutmeg/common_nutmeg_10.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="common nutmeg" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/common_nutmeg/common_nutmeg_10_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image</p><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/common_nutmeg/" target="_top">More common nutmeg images and further information</a><br /><br />Gastropod<br />Mudsnail-Shaped - nutmegs (Cancellariidae)<br /><strong>Common Nutmeg</strong> <em>Cancellaria reticulata</em> (Linnaeus)<br /><em>Description</em>: (2 1/4 inches) Rough surface on shell. Many spiral cords across many axial ribs, resulting in a lattice or beaded pattern. Elongate aperture with short canal. Inner margin with two strong, thin spiral ridges running into aperture (upper ridge stronger than lower ridge). No operculum.<br /><em>Color</em>: Banded or splotched with cream and orange or brown.<br /><em>Habitat</em>: Lives offshore. Occasionally washed onto ocean beaches.<br /><em>Range</em>: North Carolina to Brazil.<br /><em>Notes</em>: This species is probably carnivorous because its radula is ideal for feeding on soft-bodied animals.Source: Seashells of North Carolina, <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> College ProgramUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1148338988289520182006-05-22T15:56:00.000-07:002006-05-26T15:46:04.176-07:00Dark Variety Lettered OliveI found these lettered olives (<em>Oliva sayana</em>) on the beach today. It was unusual finding an olive this large, but the dark color... love it.<br /><br />All images posted <a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lettered_olive/" target="_top">here</a><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lettered_olive/dark_lettered_olive_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Oliva sayana, lettered olive" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lettered_olive/dark_lettered_olive_01_sm.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lettered_olive/dark_lettered_olive_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Oliva sayana, lettered olive" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lettered_olive/dark_lettered_olive_02_sm.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lettered_olive/dark_lettered_olive_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Oliva sayana, lettered olive" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lettered_olive/dark_lettered_olive_03_sm.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br />Sally Thomas: Read Orrin Pilkey's How to Read a NC Beach, Chapter 6 pg 113 on the subject of brown and black shells. These are secondary colorations and a result of the reaction of iron to either oxygen (brown or rust of iron oxide) or sulfur (iron sulfide). This may be your answer. Good luck, Sally<br /><br /><blockquote>Sharon: My dark olives appear to be fading to a lighter color, as they've sat in their box.</blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1148295476799072122006-05-22T03:38:00.000-07:002006-05-22T06:20:49.890-07:00Alternate Tellin (Say)<blockquote style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1">Sharon: This shell I have is very thin, it's not very wide, the texture is sort of like glass and very shiny.<br /><br />The closest description I've found in the NC Sea Grant field guide is the Alternate Tellin and the fragile surfclam seems to resemble it also.</blockquote><p style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0001.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="alternate tellin" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0001_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0002.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="alternate tellin" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0002_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0005.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="alternate tellin" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0005_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0006.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="alternate tellin" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0006_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0011.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="alternate tellin" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0011_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0012.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="alternate tellin" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0012_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0013.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="alternate tellin" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0013_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0014.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="alternate tellin" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0014_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0017.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="alternate tellin" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0017_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0018.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="alternate tellin" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0018_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0020.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="alternate tellin" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/alternate_tellin/alternate_tellin_0020_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320 px image</p><br />Hi Sharon,<br /><br />Yes, this is Tellina alternata Say. I notice that the shell in image 0014 met its demise as a dinner for Polinices duplicatus, whose radula rasped the rather large hole near the umbos.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Paul M.<br /><br /><blockquote style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1">Sharon: From what I'm hearing, this Polinices duplicatus is a real cold blooded killer (they are cold blooded aren't they?) though to be more precise, should I say poikilothermic?</blockquote><br />Hi Sharon,<br /><br />Yes, all the moon snails are very effective predators upon other molluscs, especially bivalves. But sometimes they also attack gastropods, including other moon snails.<br /><br />Yes, all invertebrates are technically poikilotherms, though the term is most often used in reference to vertebrates (mammals and birds are homeotherms while reptiles, amphibians and fish are poikilotherms).<br /><br />Regards,<br />Paul Monfils<br /><br /><blockquote>Terri: Beautiful tellins, Sharon. And yes, <em>Polinices duplicatus</em> is a real ectothermic killer! Seems there are always shells on the beach with those radula-drilled holes. There are other gastropods who do the same thing (oyster drills, etc.). I've always enjoyed teaching kids to be "beach detectives" -- to see if they could find molluscs that were murdered by other molluscs! A type of beach CSI!<br /><br />But this discussion reminds me of a Gary Larson cartoon (one of my favorites) with an alligator sitting on the witness stand screaming "Of course I did it in cold blood, you idiot! I'm a reptile!"<br /><br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1148232489614081312006-05-21T10:08:00.000-07:002006-05-22T03:38:17.566-07:00About the Contributors<ul><li>Sally Thomas works as a volunteer with the <a href="http://www.ncaquariums.com/" target="_blank">North Carolina Aquariums</a>.</li><br /><li>Terri Hathaway: I, too, love learning about the natural and life history of marine organisms. They just fascinate me. Guess that's why I went into marine biology (BS degree from UNC Wilmington). I worked as Education Curator at the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island for 18.5 years before taking this job with NC Sea Grant 2.5 years ago. I now work with teachers across the state, getting marine science into classrooms wherever I can.</li><br />I'm happy to answer all kinds of questions about the beach, marine life in general or in specific, etc. I just love living near the ocean and being able to see it and walk along it every day. Looking forward to more communcations with you!<br /><br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br />Manteo, NC<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org" target="_blank">www.ncseagrant.org</a><br /><br /><blockquote style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1">Sharon: Thanks for those verifications/info, Paul.<br />Thank you for posting answers on the blog, and I welcome any input, addtl. information -- you can email it to me, and I can publish it into the front pages of the shell entries.<br /><br />Very curious.. how have you came to be so knowledgeable on marine biology /<br />shell expertee?<br /><br />Sharon</blockquote><li>Paul Monfils: Hi Sharon,</li><br /></ul>Thanks for your email. I have taken a look at most of the shells you have posted on your website. Most of them are certainly correctly identified. I do have a few comments on a couple of them but don't have much time to write tonight. Just thought I would take a moment to respond to your email. I'll write more about the shells shortly.<br /><br />I have been a shell collector for almost 50 years, and a specimen shell importer and dealer for over 30 years. My undergraduate degree was in zoology, and I have taught that subject at both high school and college levels (though I now work and teach in the area of medical research).<br /><br />I'm located in Rhode Island, so several of my local species are the same as yours - Mercenaria mercenaria, Petricola pholadiformis, Ensis directus, Polinices duplicatus, etc. Of course you can also find some of the more southern species that are not found here, and I have quite a few northern species that you don't have locally.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Paul Monfils<br /><br /><blockquote style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1">Sharon: Good morning and thank you for taking the time to respond. That's an impressive resume.<br /><br />I'm curious, can you please identify this shell for me. I found a couple of these in beachdrift and we haven't any idea which species it is.<br /></blockquote><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><br /><img alt="snail" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/snail_0001.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /><br /><br /><img alt="snail" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/snail_0002.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /><br /><br /><img alt="snail" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/snail_0003.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /><br /><br /><img alt="snail" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/snail_0004.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /><br /><br /><img alt="snail" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/snail_0005.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /><br /><br /><img alt="snail" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/snail_0006.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></p><br /><blockquote style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1">Currently Terri K. Hathaway (NC Sea Grant/Marine Biologist) helps to identify and Sally Thomas, a volunteer from the NC Aquariums. May I count you in as a future contributor for shell identification in the future?<br /><br />This one (above) hasn't been identified or posted.<br /><br />Thank you, Sharon Mooney</blockquote><br />Paul Monfils: Hi Sharon,<br /><br />You won't find this one in your seashell books because it's a land snail.<br />I'm not sure what species it is. I don't know land snails as well as I know marine species, but I do have a fair amount of experience with them. I can probably ID it when I have a little more time.<br /><br />I'll be glad to help with shell ID. I do this frequently for collectors. A couple of collectors, who don't have the capability of photographing shells and posting images online, mail me a box of unidentified shells now and then and enclose return postage. I identify what I can for them and mail them back.<br /><br />I don't have a webpage of my own. My customers have been asking me for twenty years when I am going to put one up. But shells are only one part of my life. I already have a mailing list of almost 500 collectors, who send me enough orders to keep me busy for most of my available time. I have nearly 5,000 species of wordwide shells in stock. I also sell shells online sometimes, mainly on <a href="http://www.shellauction.net" target="_blank">www.shellauction.net</a>, and occasionally on a few other online auctions. If I put up a website I would have to do shells full time just to keep up, and I really don't want that. Maybe after I retire from my present full time job.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Paul Monfils<br /><br /><blockquote style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1">Sharon: So, Terri Hathaway was correct. Paul Monfils confirms it is a species of land snail.<br />I wonder what it was doing in beachdrift? I found two of them at separate times, in fact. Maybe a fickle species of snail that never quite left the ocean? -or trying to return. *smile*</blockquote><br /><br />I keyed your land snail in The Eastern Land Snails, and confirmed my findings in the Compendium of Landshells and a couple of other sources. Your shell appears to be <em>Triodopsis tridentata</em> (Say), in the family Polygyridae.<br /><br />Two likely ways for land snails to end up in beach drift -<br /><br />1. Snail falls into a fresh water stream, is carried to a river which empties into the ocean. (Land snails are usually light weight - without the buoyancy of water around them, they could not carry a heavy shell around as marine snails do - so they typically float.). Once in the ocean it can wash ashore.<br /><br />2. Snail lives in grassy zone above high tide level. Once the snail dies, wind blows its light weight shell down the beach into the drift line.<br /><br />I once had a Carrier Shell (Xenophora pallidula) which had attached a land snail shell to itself. That snail shell obviously managed to sink once it reached the ocean, or the Carrier could not have found it.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Paul M.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1147581664649180132006-05-13T21:08:00.000-07:002006-05-15T16:13:16.976-07:00Humphrey Wentletrap - Epitonium humphreysiiBeautiful wentletraps! I've found only a few of those myself. I treasure them! Definitely look like Humphrey wentletraps to me.<br /><br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a><br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0007.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0007_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0020.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0020_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0022.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0022_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0025.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0025_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0026.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0026_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0029.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0029_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0034.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0034_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0039.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0039_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0043.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0043_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0046.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="wentletrap" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/humphrey_wentletrap/wentletrap_0046_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image</p><br /><strong>Humphrey Wentletrap</strong> <em>Epitonium humphreysii</em> (Kiener)<br /><em>Description</em>: (3/4 inch) Small, high-spired shell. Very similar to angulate wentletrap in appearance, habitat and numbers, but eight to nine rounded ribs on each whorl thicker and not angulate at shoulder. Also, generally more slender with a thicker lip on round aperture. Smooth spaces between ribs. Operculum.<br /><em>Color</em>: White exterior and interior. Mahogany-colored operculum.<br /><em>Habitat</em>: Occasionally found in drift on ocean beaches.<br /><em>Range</em>: Massachusetts to Texas.<br />(See <em>brown-band wentletrap</em> <em>Notes</em>) : Also called <em>lined wentletrap</em>. About 24 kinds of wentletraps have been recorded in North Carolina waters. A carnivore, it forages in sand for sea anemones and tears tissue with its jaws. It secretes a substance that turns purple and may anesthetize the anemones. Females lays strings of sand-covered egg capsules. Its young are free-swimming. The precious wentletrap (up to 2 3/4 iches long) from the Pacific Ocean is one of the prettiest shells known.<br />Source: <em>Seashells of North Carolina</em>, <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> College ProgramUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1147575428191784812006-05-13T19:22:00.000-07:002006-05-15T19:42:50.340-07:00Barnacles, Et Cetera<blockquote><blockquote>Sharon: I find lots of interesting things on the beach, some of it, I'm not always quite sure <em>what</em> it is...</blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>Sally Thomas: lots of different worm snails, hard corals, barnacles on cockle shell, but I guess you already knew that. I see nothing that resembles an urchin test as suggested, more like a riddles bivalve. Not much help. Sally</blockquote>Terri: top 9 photos have pieces from what I say are Knorr's (or Florida) worm snails. Or these may be actual worm tubes -- some polychaetes form tubes for protection. Hard to be sure without close examination.<br /><br />Photos 10-19 are of species of hard coral that live in our waters. These are colonial animals, but do not form reefs.<br />Photos 10, 11, 18 and 19 are of star coral (Astrangia danae) which grows on hard surfaces, including shells.<br />Photos 12-17 are of ivory bush coral (Oculina arbuscula) which is a branching coral. Each cup (which I think you're calling a "pod") held one individual animal. These animals belong to the phylum Cnidaria and are related to sea anemones and jellies!<br /><br />Photo 20 looks like an oyster shell with other oysters shells that have been attached to it.<br /><br />The crossbarred venus looks like it had some coral settle on it, as well as any oyster and/or another bivalve!<br /><br />Photo 26 -- interesting piece. It could be several things: a piece of sand dollar/keyhole urchin or a piece of a bivalve that has has boring sponge growing on it (and "drilling" those holes through it).<br /><br />Photo 27 (from the top) is the cockle with some coral that settled on it.<br /><br />Photo 28 is part of a test of a sea urchin (an echinoderm).<br /><br />Photos 29-32 are of a cockle with a barnacle that settled on it.<br />(remember that barnacles are crustaceans.)<br /><br />You're finding lots of cool stuff!<br /><br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a><br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><br />At first, I thought this was a "ram's horn squid" <em>Spirula spirula</em> but after comparing with the image in the North Carolina Seashells field guide, I'm not sure what this interesting shell is.<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0001.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0001_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0002.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0002_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0003.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0003_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0004.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0004_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0005.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0005_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0006.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0006_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image (At the top of the above photo and below, are two similar shell-like formations, only thinner.)<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0007.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0007_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0009.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0009_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0010.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0010_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0012.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0012_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image (close up to one of these pods, see the fine detail inside).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0016.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0016_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0017.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0017_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image (a shell cemented to it)<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0018.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0018_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0022.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0022_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0027.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0027_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image (closeup to see the fine detail inside each pod)<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0028.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0028_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0029.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0029_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0030.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0030_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0031.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0031_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0034.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0034_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image (This was something I found that looks more like a fossil than a shell. It's texture and surface looks more like cement that was shaped inside a shell, and it has some shells stuck inside it (above).<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0035.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0035_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0036.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0036_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image (This poor crossbarred venus had quite a variety of guests stuck to it).<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0037.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0037_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image (Some of the odds and ends I've found on the beach).<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0038.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0038_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image (More of that crossbar venus).<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0039.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0039_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0041.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0041_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image (I find these often on the beach. They are flat and smooth on one side with holes covering the other.)<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0042.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0042_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image (Here's a cockleshell with a couple guests stuck to it).<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0043.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0043_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0044.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0044_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image (Another cockleshell with a guest.)<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0046.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0046_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0047.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0047_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0049.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="barnacles, etc" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/barnacles/barnacles_0049_small.jpg" align="bottom" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1147563559859236832006-05-13T16:26:00.000-07:002006-05-15T16:07:08.320-07:00Shark Eye moonsnail, Polinices duplicatus<blockquote><br />Gorgeous moon snails!<br /><br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a> </blockquote><br />One of my favorite finds on the beach is the shark eye (<em>Polinices duplicatus</em>) moon snail shell.. though <em>seldom</em> do I find it intact.<br />If the eye looks nice, I usually add it to my collection. I found a particularly beautiful blueish swirled shark eye (below) and some of the other moon snails I've found featured in this entry.<br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0003.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0003_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0005.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0005_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0009.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0009_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0011.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0013_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0015.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0015_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0017.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0017_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0030.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0030_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0037.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0037_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0041.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0041_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0045.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0045_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0047.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0047_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0048.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" 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src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0098_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0100.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0100_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0101.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0101_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0102.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0102_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0110.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0110_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0111.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Polinices duplicatus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/moon_snails/moon_snails_0111_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /></p><br /><br /><strong>Shark Eye</strong> <em>Neverita duplicata</em> (Say) (=<em>Polinices duplicatus</em>)<br /><em>Description</em>: (3 1/2 inches) Smooth, globe-shaped shell with a small spire. Resembles a shark's eye because line winds around the spire. Umbilicus almost covered by a large, buttonlike lobe. Large elliptical aperture. Horny operculum.<br /><em>Color</em>: Bluish brown or purplish gray with a gray umbilicus, brown callus and a light brown semitransparent operculum.<br /><em>Habitat</em>: Lives offshore. Commonly washed onto sound and ocean beaches.<br /><em>Range</em>: Cape Cod, Mass to Texas.<br /><em>Notes</em>: Also called Atlantic moonsnail. A carnivore, it is a very active predator that burrows rapidly through sand to find prey. It attacks other mollusks, including relatives, by using its radula and acid secretions to drill a beveled hole through the prey's shell. This species leaves tracks over sand in low tide. Females lay eggs under "sand collars," which they form out of mucus and sand grains; these can often be found on beaches during the summer. Young are free swimming.<br />Source: <em>Seashells of North Carolina</em>, <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> College Program<br /><br />Earlier Related Posts:<br /><a href="http://north-carolina-sea-shells.blogspot.com/2006/04/naticas-moon-and-ear-shells.html" target="_top">Natica, Moon and Ear Shells</a><br /><a href="http://north-carolina-sea-shells.blogspot.com/2006/05/shark-eye-moon-snail-polinices.html" target="_top">Shark Eye Moon Snail</a><br /><a href="http://north-carolina-sea-shells.blogspot.com/2006/04/babys-ear.html" target="_top">Baby's Ear</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1147544797847041722006-05-13T11:07:00.000-07:002006-05-15T16:04:38.903-07:00GastropodsI agree with Sally's IDs. In 5th photo down, a banded tulip on right hand side, and true tulip on left hand side. Most of the gastropods look like knobbed whelk, but may have some lightning whelks (opening on left side) and channeled whelks (channeled groove around top spire) mixed in.<br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a><br /><blockquote>Sally Thomas: Looks like a lot of various whelks that are not very old. Banded Tulip is on right end and probably a true tulip is on the left end of that identified photo. Look up channeled whelk for #12 - 13 photos. Lightning has a left opening with the rest opeing on the right for a general sort. I'd really have to pick them up to get any closer to a positive id.</blockquote><br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">These are some of the <em>larger</em> Gastropods I've picked up and collected at the beach. I haven't found too many of these shells whole or the majority of the shell intact -usually I see a lot of these shells on the beach but they've been busted into pieces. Large pieces litter the shoreline. However, even damaged I normally have kept most of the shells, if most of it is intact, enough to identify the shell.</p><br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" align="center"><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0001.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0001_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0002.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0002_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0003.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0003_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0004.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0004_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0005.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0005_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image (far right looks like a banded tulip, <em>Fasciolaria lilium hunteria</em><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0006.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0006_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a 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/>Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0014.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0014_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0015.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0015_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0016.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0016_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0017.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0017_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0018.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0018_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0019.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0019_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0020.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0020_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0022.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="gastropod" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gastropods/gatropods_0022_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image</p><br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">The gastropods, gasteropods, or univalves, are the largest and most successful class of mollusks, with 60,000-75,000 extant species known, comprising the snails and slugs as well as a vast number of marine and freshwater species.<br /><br />Snails are distinguished by torsion, a process where the body coils to one side during development.<br /><br />They typically have a well-defined head with two or four sensory tentacles, and a ventral foot, which gives them their name (Greek gaster, stomach, and poda, feet). The eyes that may be present at the tip of the tentacles range from simple ocelli that cannot project an image (simply distinguishing light and dark), to more complex pit and even lens eyes [1].<br /><br />Most members have a shell, which is in one piece and typically coiled or spiralled that usually opens on the right hand side (as viewed with the shell apex pointing upward). Several species have an operculum that operates as a trapdoor to close the shell. This is usually made of a horny material, but in some molluscs it is calcareous. In some members, the slugs, the shell is reduced or absent, and the body is streamlined so its torsion is relatively inconspicuous.<br /><br />While the best-known gastropods are terrestrial, more than two thirds of all species live in a marine environment. Marine gastropods include herbivores, detritus feeders, carnivores and a few ciliary feeders, in which the radula is reduced or absent. The radula is usually adapted to the food that a species eats. The simplest gastropods are the limpets and abalones, both herbivores that use their hard radulas to rasp at seaweeds on rocks. Many marine gastropods are burrowers and have siphons or tubes that extend from the mantle and sometimes the shell. These act as snorkels, enabling the animal to continue to draw in a water current containing oxygen and food into their bodies. The siphons are also used to detect prey from a distance. These gastropods breathe with gills, but some freshwater species and almost all terrestric species have developed lungs. While the gastropods with lungs all belong to one group (Pulmonata), the gastropods with gills are paraphyletic.<br />... more on <em>Gastropods</em> at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastropod" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1147488914983275412006-05-12T19:26:00.000-07:002006-05-15T16:01:24.510-07:00Angelwing Pholadidae and PetricolidaeTo tell you the truth, I'm not too good with these types. I'm really sure about any of them without seeing them up close and personal. Some of what you're calling rupellarias are larger than what I thought they were supposed to be, but since I have never seen one, I can't argue with you!<br /><br />I didn't see a photo of the mud-piddock. The angel wing and false angel wings are beautiful!<br /><br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a> <br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1">Over the past weeks I've been collecting angelwing-shaped shells when I find them, including some of the broken shells because to find an angelwing-type shell on the beach, isn't that easy. I have only found one true Angelwing <em>Cyrtopleura costata</em>, and luck would have it that it was chipped and the tip broken off. These are fragile shells, and rare to find them in one piece.<br /><br />The following angelwing type shells are of the Angelwing <em>Cyrtopleura costata</em>, Atlantic mud-piddock <em>Barnea truncata</em>, false angelwing <em>Petricola pholadiformis</em>, and the Atlantic rupellaria <em>Rupellaria typica</em> species.<br /><br />Seems I am missing Campeche angelwing <em>Pholas campechiensis</em> and the wedge piddock <em>Martesia cuneiformis</em> in my collection.</p><br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0003.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0003_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0005.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0005_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0007.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0007_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0008.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0008_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0010.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0010_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0011.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0011_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0014.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0014_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0015.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0015_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0019.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0019_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0020.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0020_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0021.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0021_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0022.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0022_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0024.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0024_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0025.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0025_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0027.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0027_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0029.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0029_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0031.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0031_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0032.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0032_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0034.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0034_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0037.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0037_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0038.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="False Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0038_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0041.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="False Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0041_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>False Angelwing</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0042.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="False Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0042_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0043.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="False Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0043_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>False Angelwing</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0045.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0045_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0046.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0046_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Fallen Angelwing</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0047.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0047_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0049.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0049_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Fallen Angelwing</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0051.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0051_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0053.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0053_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Fallen Angelwing</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0058.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0058_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0062.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0062_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Angelwing</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0063.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0063_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0064.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0064_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Angelwing</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0066.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0066_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0069.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0069_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px">Angelwing type - <em>Angelwing</em></td><br /><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px"><em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0070.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0070_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0071.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0071_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0072.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0072_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0074.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0074_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0075.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0075_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0076.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0076_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0077.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0077_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0078.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0078_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0081.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0081_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0082.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0082_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0083.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0083_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0085.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0085_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" border="1"><tbody style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Click for 320px image</td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0086.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0086_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td><td><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0088.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angelwing - Atlantic Rupellaria" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angelwing_0088_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="FONT-SIZE: 10px" colspan="2">Angelwing type - <em>Atlantic Rupellaria</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><strong>Angelwing (Pholadidae)</strong><br /><br /><strong>Angelwing</strong> <em>Cyrtopleura costata</em> (Linnaeus)<br />Description: (5 3/4 inches) Fairly large, elongate shell tapers to a rounded point. Strongly resembles the wing of an angel. About 30 sharply beaded ribs. Shells rolls outward on top --this edge not braced by partitions. Very thin shell breaks easily.<br />Color: Pure white exterior and interior, occasionally pink at the edges. Grayish periostracum.<br />Habitat: Lives offshore and in estuaries, burrowed as much as 3 feet deep in mud or clay. Occasionally washed onto beaches.<br />Range: New Jersey to Brazil.<br />Notes: This is a popular shell with delicious meat. The pink tinges occur when the animal feeds on certain types of algae. It moves up and down in its burrows. If dug up, the fragile shell must be placed immediately into a container of water or it will close suddenly and shatter.<br /><br /><strong>Atlantic mud-piddock</strong> <em>Barnea truncata</em> (Say)<br />Description: (2 1/4 inches) Similar to angelwing but with weaker sculpture. One end squared off and other end pointed. Loose accesory plates above the hinge on live specimens.<br />Color: White exterior and interior.<br />Habitat: Lives burrowed into mud, clay or softwood. Occasionally washed onto sounds and ocean beaches.<br />Range: Maine to Brazil.<br />Notes: Also called a <strong>fallen angelwing</strong>. This fragile shell is rarely dug from mud without breaking. It burrows deeply and has long, united siphons.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Angelwing Shaped Rupellarias (Petricolidae)</strong><br /><br /><strong>False Angelwing</strong> <em>Petricola pholadiformis</em> (Lamarck)<br />Description: (2 3/4 inches) Thin, elongate shell resembling a small angelwing but lacks the rolled-out hinge area. Beak at one end of shell. Strong radial ribbing on the beak end. Teeth on hinge. Deep pallial sinus.<br />Color: White exterior and interior.<br />Habitat: Lives in intertidal zone, burrowed into hard clay or peat. Commonly found on sounds and ocean beaches.<br />Range: Canada to Uruguay.<br />Notes: It burrows into hard surfaces and has long, partially united siphons.<br /><br /><strong>Atlantic Rupellaria</strong> <em>Rupellaria typica</em> (Jonas)(=<em>Petricola typica</em>)<br />Description: (1 inch) Variable shape, usually oblong. Coarse radial ribs. Beak about one-quarter of length from front end. Deep pallial sinus. No good lateral teeth.<br />Color: Grayish white exterior and brownish interior.<br />Habitat: Lives offshore in rock, shell or coral.<br />Range: North Carolina to Brazil.<br />Notes: Shell shape varies because it does not bore its own hole. Instead, it occupies crevices or holes bored by other animals and adopts the shape of the crevice or hole.<br /><br />Source: <em>Seashells of North Carolina</em>, <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> College Program<br /><br />Related Posts: <a href="http://north-carolina-sea-shells.blogspot.com/2006/05/angel-wing-shell.html" target="_top">Fallen Angel Wing</a> and <a href="http://north-carolina-sea-shells.blogspot.com/2006/04/campeche-angel-wing-pholas.html" target="_top">Angel Wing Shell</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1147468065229289212006-05-12T13:53:00.000-07:002006-05-19T13:16:40.120-07:00Gray Pygmy Venus<blockquote><p>Sally Thomas: could it be <em>glory-of-the-seas venus</em>? my references say that gray pygmy venus is 1/2 "</p></blockquote>I don't think it's a gray pygmy venus -- end of shell isn't squared off enough for me. Not sure about what else it could be -- I'll keep searching.<br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a><br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.swisstools.net/forum/default.asp?fid=64236" target="_blank">Paul Monfils</a>: Hello Sharon,<br /><br />Yesterday I visited your impressive website. I noticed that the shell you have listed as "gray pygmy venus" is actually the spiny paper cockle, <em>Papyridea lata</em> Born, 1778. I'll take a closer look at some of the others shortly, when I have a little more time.</blockquote>Sure looks like he's correct.<br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a><br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_01_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_02_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_03_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_04_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_05.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_05_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_06.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_06_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_07.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_07_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_08.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_08_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_09.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_09_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_10.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_10_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_11.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_11_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_12.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_12_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_13.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_13_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_14.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Gray Pygmy Venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/gray_pygmy_venus/gray_pygmy_venus_14_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 320px image</p><br />Bivalves<br /><strong>Spiny Papercockle</strong> <em>Papyridea soliniformis</em> (Bruguiere)<br /><em>Description</em>: (1 1/2 inches) Thin, elliptical shell slightly elongated and not deeply cupped. Radial ribs with tiny spines near their ends. Prominent lateral teeth on hinge. No lunule or pallial sinus.<br /><em>Color</em>: Exterior and interior pinkish white, mottled with brownish orange and pink.<br /><em>Habitat</em>: Lives offshore. Its short siphons indicate that it lives just below mud surface. Occasionally found on ocean beaches from Cape Lookout south.<br /><em>Range</em>: North Carolina to Brazil.<br /><em>Notes</em>: Cockles are commonly eaten in Europe. The animal has a long, powerful foot that allows it to be active.<br /><br />Bivalves<br /><strong>Gray Pygmy Venus</strong> <em>Chione grus</em> (Holmes)<br /><em>Description</em>: (3/8 inch) Oblong shell. Beak about one-quarter of the shell length from the rounded front end. Squarish back end. Surface with many fine radial ribs crossed by equally fine concentric lines. Lateral and cardinal teeth on hinge. Narrow, heart-shaped lunule. Small pallial sinus.<br /><em>Color</em>: Exterior gray to white (sometimes light pink) with purplish brown near both ends of the hinge. Dark brown lunule. White interior with purplish brown near one end.<br /><em>Habitat</em>: Lives in sand and mud in high-salinity estuaries south of Cape Hatteras and also offshore in waters up to 100 feet deep. Attaches to shells in shell-reef areas. Common on ocean beaches.<br /><em>Range</em>: North Carolina to Florida and Texas.<br />Source: <em>Seashells of North Carolina</em>, <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> College ProgramUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1147382624373533342006-05-11T14:07:00.000-07:002006-05-11T15:17:52.976-07:00Northern Quahog Venus<p style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="quahog venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_01_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="quahog venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_02_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="quahog venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_03_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="quahog venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_04_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_05.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="quahog venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_05_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_06.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="quahog venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_06_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_07.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="quahog venus" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/northern_quahog/quahog_venus_07_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image</p><br /><br />Sure looks like a northern quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria) to me.<br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a><br /><br />Bivalves<br />Clam-Shaped Venus Clams (<em>Veneridae</em>)<br /><strong>Northern Quahog</strong> (hard-shelled clam) <em>Mercenaria mercenaria</em> (Linnaeus)<br /><em>Description</em>: (4 1/2 inches) Heavy, rounded, somewhat inflated shell. Concentric ridges on surface smooth near the center and stronger near the lower edge. Elevated beak. Strong lateral and cardinal teeth on hinge. Lunule and pallial sinus.<br /><em>Color</em>: Dull gray exterior, occasionally with purple zigzag markings. Dull gray interior, often with some purple near the pallial sinus.<br /><em>Habitat</em>: Lives in sounds and mouths of estuaries near the ocean. Commonly found on sound and ocean beaches.<br /><em>Range</em>: Canada to Texas.<br /><em>Notes</em>: Also known as the littleneck clam, cherrystone and chowder clam. A large commercial fishery in North Carolina waters, it has potential for mariculture. Nearly all individuals are male the first year, then about half become females. It was a favorite food of early Native Americans, who made beads from this shell's purple edge and used them as money, called "wampum." A form of this species with purple zigzag markings once given the subspecies name <em>Mercenaria mercenaria notata</em> Say, but this clam is a naturally occuring genetic color form of the northern quahog. The purple zigzag patterns occurs in a number of other species in the family <em>Veneridae</em>. Specimens with these markings were once specifically bred by clam growers to identify their stock from monhatchery-bred clams. Clams with these markings may still occasionally be found.<br />Source: <em>Seashells of North Carolina</em>, <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> College Program.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1147131276422856562006-05-08T13:47:00.000-07:002006-05-08T17:03:26.453-07:00BittersweetSally Thomas: I opt for a member of the bittersweet family... most likely the Atlantic bittersweet.<br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/bittersweet/bittersweet_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="bittersweet" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/bittersweet/bittersweet_01_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/bittersweet/bittersweet_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="bittersweet" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/bittersweet/bittersweet_02_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/bittersweet/bittersweet_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="bittersweet" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/bittersweet/bittersweet_03_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/bittersweet/bittersweet_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="bittersweet" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/bittersweet/bittersweet_04_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image</p><br /><br />Sharon: The closest bittersweet in the NC Sea Grant handbook that sounds similar to the Atlantic Bittersweet, is <em>Giant Bittersweet</em>:<br />Bivalves, Ark-Shaped bittersweets (<em>Glycymerididae</em>)<br /><strong>Giant Bittersweet</strong> <em>Glycymeris Americana </em>(DeFrance)<br /><em>Description</em>: (4 inches) Round, somewhat flat shell. Indistinct broad radial ribs sculptured with radiating scratches. Central beak. Long, curved hinge with 19 to 24 teeth. Scalloped margin. No pallial sinus. Velvety periostracum.<br />Color: Grayish tan exterior, mottled with yellowish brown. Dark brown periostracum.<br /><em>Habitat</em>: Lives offshore. Dense concentrations at 75-foot depths off Cape Fear. Commonly found on beaches near and south of Cape Fear. Occasionally netted as incidental catch by offshore fishing boats.<br /><em>Range</em>: North Carolina to Florida.<br /><em>Notes</em>: It has a bitter taste, as its name implies, so it cannot be considered for commercial harvest. It has a muscular foot.<br />Source: <em>Seashells of North Carolina</em>, <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> College ProgramUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1147055391433839592006-05-07T19:12:00.000-07:002006-05-08T12:39:45.830-07:00Cross Hatched Lucine<p style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_01_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_02_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_03_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_04_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_05.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_05_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_06.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_06_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_07.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_07_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_08.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_08_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_09.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_09_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_10.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_10_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_11.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_11_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_12.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_12_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_13.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="cross hatched lucine" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/cross_hatched_lucine/cross_hatched_lucine_13_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image</p><br /><br /><blockquote>Subject: Verifying <em>Cross Hatched Lucine</em> Shell?<br />Sally Thomas: Although I have never seen one of these, it looks like a positive id<br /></blockquote><br /><br />I'm pretty sure that you have lots of these in your collection. They're one of my favorites also -- so dainty and cute!<br /><br />Several of them have holes -- so you know how they died! Something like the moon snail drilled through them with their radula and ate them! Beach CSI at work!<br /><br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a><br /><br />Clam-Shaped Lucines (<em>Lucinidae</em>)<br /><strong>Cross Hatched Lucine</strong> <em>Divaricalla quadrisulcata</em> (d'Orbigny)<br /><em>Description</em>: (3/4 inch) Small, rounded, plump shell. Pattern of tiny grooves swirl around surface, resulting in a chevronlike sculpture. Hinge teeth. Crenulations on inside edges. No pallial sinus.<br /><em>Color</em>: White.<br /><em>Habitat</em>: Lives in shallow to offshore water. Common on ocean beaches.<br /><em>Range</em>: Massachusetts to Brazil.<br /><em>Notes</em>: Shells are often used in crafts.<br />Source: <em>Seashells of North Carolina</em>, <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> College ProgramUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1146970834939875182006-05-06T19:44:00.000-07:002006-05-08T13:23:46.613-07:00Disk Dosinia, Dosinia Discus<p style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_01_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_02_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_03_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_04_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_05.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_05_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_06.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_06_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_07.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_07_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_08.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_08_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_09.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_09_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_10.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_10_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_11.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_11_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_12.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_12_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_13.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_13_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_14.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_14_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_15.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_15_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_16.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_16_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_17.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disk Dosinia" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/disk_dosinia/disk_dosinia_17_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image</p><br /><strong>Disk Dosinia</strong> <em>Dosinia discus</em> (Reeve)<br /><em>Description</em>: (3 inches) Round, flat, disklike shell similar to <a href="http://north-carolina-sea-shells.blogspot.com/2006/04/elegant-dosinia-dosinia-elegans.html" target="_top">elegant dosinia</a>. Fine concentric ridges --about 50 ridges per inch. Beak curves forward. Cardinal teeth on hinge. Lunule and pallial sinus.<br /><em>Color</em>: Shiny white interior and exterior. Thin, yellow periostracum.<br /><em>Habitat</em>: Lives in sounds and just offshore on shallow sand flats. Commonly found on sound and ocean beaches.<br /><em>Range</em>: Virginia to Yucatan.<br />Source: <em>Seashells of North Carolina</em>, <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> College Program<br /><br /><blockquote>Sally Thomas: I've been calling them disk dosinias but the two are quite similar. <a href="http://north-carolina-sea-shells.blogspot.com/2006/04/elegant-dosinia-dosinia-elegans.html" target="_top">Elegant</a> is larger and has less crowded concentric ridges. The picture by the ruler shows none over 2".</blockquote><br /><br />Terri Hathaway: Some of those photos include shells that look like something other than disc dosinias. They look too oblong for dosinia. They're more like surf clams or something similar. Good luck with those. Maybe Sally can ID them?<br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1146958666293676152006-05-06T16:36:00.000-07:002006-05-09T06:20:38.416-07:00Lady-In-Waiting Venus Clam<p style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lady In Waiting Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_01_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lady In Waiting Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_02_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lady In Waiting Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_03_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lady In Waiting Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_04_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_05.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lady In Waiting Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_05_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_06.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lady In Waiting Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_06_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_07.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lady In Waiting Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_07_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_08.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lady In Waiting Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_08_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_09.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Lady In Waiting Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/lady_in_waiting_venus/lady_in_waiting_venus_09_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image</p><br /><blockquote><em>Sharon: Seems to agree with the image for </em><a href="http://www.jaxshells.org/tkiv1.htm" target="_blank"><em>Lady in Waiting Venus</em></a></blockquote>Definitely some <em>Lady-in-waiting venus clams</em> in there.<br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a><br /><blockquote><br />Sharon: There is one shell among these that's caused confusion, and I hope it is a lady-in-waiting-venus too. I took photos of top and bottom of the shell. It's ragged around the edges --very odd looking, it's shaped like the other venus clams... but the ridges almost as pronounced as the Imperial venus, but the distance between the ridges are more like the Lady in waiting... but it doesn't quite look like a Lady in waiting venus.<br /></blockquote><br />I'm going with the lady-in-waiting for the strange shell -- seeing the bottom edge so serrated seals it for me. With the imperial venus, the bottom edge is finely grooved, not serrated.<br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a><br /><br />Bivalves<br />Clam-Shaped - venus clams (Veneridae)<br /><strong>lady-in-waiting venus</strong> <em>Chione intapurpurea</em> (Conrad)<br /><em>Description</em>: (1 1/2 inches) Round, thick shell. Many concentric edges closer-set than those on the <a href="http://north-carolina-sea-shells.blogspot.com/2006/04/venus-clams-chione.html" target="_top">cross-barred venus</a>. Serrated lower edges of concentric ridges give appearance of being crossed by light ribbing. Lateral and cardinal teeth on hinge. Lunule and pallial sinus. Fine crenulations on bottom edge of shell.<br /><em>Color</em>: Creamy white exterior, often with broken radial lavender stripes. White interior with purple markings.<br /><em>Habitat</em>: Lives offshore. Occasionally found on ocean beaches.<br /><em>Range</em>: North Carolina to Brazil.<br />Source: <em>Seashells of North Carolina</em>, <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> College ProgramUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1146945012277130442006-05-06T12:34:00.000-07:002006-05-08T20:51:56.346-07:00Imperial Venus Clam<p style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Imperial Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_01_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Imperial Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_02_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Imperial Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_03_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Imperial Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_04_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_05.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Imperial Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_05_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_06.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Imperial Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_06_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_07.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Imperial Venus Clam" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/imperial_venus_clam/imperial_venus_clam_07_sm.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image</p><br /><br /><blockquote>Sharon: I'm fairly certain this is the Imperial Venus Clam, but would like a confirmation just for the record.</blockquote><br /><br />Looks correct to me. They are beautiful -- I have never found those up here before! Nice find!<br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a> <br /><br /><strong>Imperial Venus</strong> <em>Chione latilirata</em> (Conrad)<br /><em>Description</em>: 1.5 inches, Rounded, triangular and inflated shell. Large, heavy concentric ridges rounded and often sharply shelved at the top. Ridges fragile on dry specimens. Bottom edge of ridges not serrated. Bottom edge of shell finely grooved. Cardinal and lateral teeth on hinge. Lunule and pallial sinus.<br /><em>Color</em>: Tan exterior with lavender blotches and radial stripes.<br /><em>Habitat</em>: Lives offshore, south of Cape Hatteras, in 60-to 120-foot depths. Occasionally found on ocean beaches.<br /><em>Range</em>: North Carolina to Brazil.<br /><em>Notes</em>: This species was frequently found among catches of the Atlantic calico scallop fishery.<br />Source: <em>Seashells of North Carolina</em>, by <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> College ProgramUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1146888850489981822006-05-05T20:58:00.000-07:002006-05-08T13:03:28.573-07:00Sand Dollar<blockquote style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1">Sharon: Photographs of two sand dollars I found a few days ago, the larger was busted with a small hole just a little in the top center, and the "stars" were sitting inside, and I've shaken those out... nice photo op for close up magnification. The smaller sand dollar is intact. I'm anxiously awaiting getting photos of those, and identification of the species. From my shell book, it shows several sand dollars and the one favored most it is the "Florida Sand Dollar", unfortunately the author's note is class: Echinoidea, "many species", 1-4" which doesn't tell much.</blockquote><br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 11px" align="center"><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Sand Dollar" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_01_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click for large image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Sand Dollar" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_02_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click for large image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Sand Dollar" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_03_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click for large image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Sand Dollar" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_04_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click for large image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_05.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Sand Dollar" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_05_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click for large image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_06.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Sand Dollar" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_06_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click for large image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_07.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Sand Dollar" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_07_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click for large image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_08.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Sand Dollar" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_08_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click for large image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_09.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Sand Dollar" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_09_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click for large image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_10.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Sand Dollar" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_10_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click for large image<br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_11.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Sand Dollar" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/sand_dollar/sand_dollar_11_small.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click for large image</p><br />The "stars" that you found inside the sand dollar -- were there five of them, and were they shaped like "doves?" These are the five parts of the sand dollar mouth!<br /><br />I'm sure you've seen the postcards and plaques with the broken sand dollar and the story of the 5 "doves" flying out of the exoskeleton.<br /><br />I'm anxious to see your other photos -- love to see what you're finding down south!<br /><br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a><br /><blockquote style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1"><p><br />Sharon: There may have originally been 5, but I found the sand dollar with a hole already in it. I didn't know this was the mouth. --I shook 4 of those little <em>doves</em> out of it. (Thanks for the correction too.)<br /><br />Do the doves "grind" the food, or do they sift small food particles from the water and absorb them?</p></blockquote><br />Sally Thomas: The sand dollar is an Echinoderm as are sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers and have a hard internal skeleton... members of the phylum have five body sections arranged around a central axis. Most have hundreds of small tube feet, called podia, that work in unison, either to move the anumal over the bottom or to capture food. Sea urchins, sand dollars and sea biscuits specifically have centrally located mouth on the underside. The mouth is a complicated arrangement of five teeth, called <em>Aristotle's Lantern</em>, used for scraping algae and other organic food from rocks (urchins) or under the sand (sand dollars and sea biscuits). The Aristotle's Lantern remains inside the sand dollar which is flat and has a small mouth opening. It primarily grinds its food. Openings in the others are larger allowing the toothy A-L to protrude and scrape/collect food.<br /><br /><blockquote style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1">Sharon: After photographing the doves, I saw they *appear* they would be effective for straining food particles, but I am not completely sure about that, until I get an official answer from an expert.</blockquote><br />Sally Thomas: Paul Humann's Reef Creature Identification Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas is a fine text that may interest you.<br /><br />Terri Hathaway: I see you've already gotten some in-depth info on the sand dollars (or keyhole urchins) that you found. The scientific name is <em>Mellita quiquiesperforata</em>. The 5 holes are called lunules and may serve a couple of different purposes. They help prevent the living animals from being washed out of the sand (something to do with hydrodynamics of the water currents). And they help the sand move upwards as the animal buries itself.<br /><br />Their 5 mouth parts form what's referred to as "Aristotle's lantern".<br />That's the 5 doves you hear rattling around in dead sand dollars.<br /><br />When alive, they are covered with tiny brownish green spines that help the animal move and bury. Lots of things each sand dollars, including flounders and sea stars.<br /><br />A couple of good references for sea creatures (including molluscs):<br /><br /><em>Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast</em> by Peter Meyer<br /><em>Seashore Animals of the Southeast</em> by Edward E. Ruppert and Richard S. Fox<br /><br />more later,<br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1146833142538068002006-05-05T05:21:00.000-07:002006-05-06T13:19:29.090-07:00The Angel Wing Shell<p style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angel_wing_shell_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angel_wing_shell_01_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angel_wing_shell_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angel_wing_shell_02_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angel_wing_shell_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angel_wing_shell_03_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angel_wing_shell_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angel_wing_shell_04_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angel_wing_shell_05.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/angel_wing_shell_05_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /></p><br /><br /><p align="left">I found this particular shell about a week ago, and I'm fairly certain it belongs among the Angel Wings shell group, in the <em>Shell Book, Atlantic, Gulf and Carribean</em> (source for following photo) a similar shell is featured,<br /><center style="FONT-SIZE: 10px"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></center><br />Fallen Angel Wing, <em>Barnea truncata</em>, measuring 2-2½", and is found between Massachusetts and South Florida. Though quite different in appearance to my shell, the ribs toward the back of the shell seem to be separated by a large rib, and the rest of the shell appears smooth. On my shell the ribs continue to extend across the entire shell. Their shell, with the shape uplifted toward the back of the shell, is missing from all the shell books, but <a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">North Carolina Sea Grant</a> <em>Seashells of North Carolina</em> tells about the Angelwing-shaped - angelwings (<em>Pholadidae</em>), Cyrtopleura costata (Linnaeus). It's habitat, lives offshore and in estuaries, burrowed as much as 3 feet deep in mud or clay. Range, New Jersey to Brazil. Sea Grant notes, "if dug up, the fragile shell must be placed immediately into a container of water or it will close suddenly and shatter."<br /><br /><p style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1" align="center"><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_01_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_02_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_03.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_03_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_04_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_05.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_05_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_06.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_06_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_07.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_07_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_08.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_08_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_09.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_09_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_10.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_10_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_11.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_11_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_12.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_12_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /><br /><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_13.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Fallen Angel Wing Shell" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/angel_wings/fallen_angel_wing_13_small.jpg" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br />Click for 500px image<br /></p><br /><br /><blockquote style="line-height: 1; font-size: 11">Sharon: ... left off debating whether or not it was an Angel Wing (Cyrtopleura costata) or Fallen Angel Wing (Barnea truncata)</blockquote><br /><br />Sally Thomas: My guess is that it is the Fallen Angel Wing although I have not seen one. The image next to the ruler is almost a perfect match. The rest of the points of identification are fairly diagnostic. Peterson's and National Audubon Society Field Guides are ones I turn to first.<br /><br />Earlier Posts: <a href="http://north-carolina-sea-shells.blogspot.com/2006/04/campeche-angel-wing-pholas.html" target="_top">Campeche Angel Wing</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1146674515540695872006-05-03T08:46:00.000-07:002006-05-03T18:42:31.806-07:00When Did The First Mollusks Appear?<center><a href="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/natural-history-timeline.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://www.edwardtbabinski.us/beach_kids/sea_shells/natural-history-timeline.jpg" border="0" /></a></center><br /><br /><a href="http://library.furman.edu/staff/babinski.htm" target="_blank">Edward T. Babinski</a>: The first billion years of the earth's formation there was no life so far as anyone knows. The earth was being bombarded with debris as it cooled. And the early pre-Cambrian contains no fossilized evidence of even the simplest life forms. Some say that perhaps life or reproducing chemicals formed more than once and were destroyed more than once as asteroids from the early star system continued colliding with earth and the other planets, i.e., before the orbiting ring of matter round the sun had assumed more regular and less dangerous orbits.<br /><br />Also see, <a href="http://www.palaeos.com/Invertebrates/Molluscs/Mollusca.htm" target="_blank">Evolution of Mollusca</a><br /><br />Excerpts from PBS <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/03/4/l_034_02.html" target="_blank">The Cambrian Explosion</a><br />For most of the nearly 4 billion years that life has existed on Earth, evolution produced little beyond <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/glossary/glossary.html#bacteria" target="_blank">bacteria</a>, <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/glossary/glossary.html#plankton" target="_blank">plankton</a>, and multi-celled <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/glossary/glossary.html#algae" target="_blank">algae</a>.<br /><br />Beginning about 600 million years ago in the Precambrian, the <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/glossary/glossary.html#fossil" target="_blank">fossil</a> record speaks of more rapid change. First, there was the rise and fall of mysterious creatures of the Ediacaran fauna, named for the fossil site in Australia where they were first discovered. Some of these animals may have belonged to groups that survive today, but others don't seem at all related to animals we know.<br /><br />Between about 570 and 530 million years ago, another burst of diversification occurred, with the eventual appearance of the <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/glossary/glossary.html#lineage" target="_blank">lineages</a> of almost all animals living today.<br />This stunning and unique evolutionary flowering is termed the "Cambrian explosion," taking the name of the geological age in whose early part it occurred. But it was not as rapid as an explosion: the changes seems to have happened in a range of about 30 million years, and some stages took 5 to 10 million years.<br /><br />Recently, minute fossil embryos dating to 570 million years ago have also been discovered. Even organisms that hadn't evolved hard parts, and thus didn't leave fossils of their bodies, left fossils of the trails they made as they moved through the Precambrian mud. Life was flourishing long before the Cambrian "explosion".<br /><br />The best record of the Cambrian diversification is the Burgess Shale in British Columbia. Laid down in the middle-Cambrian, when the "explosion" had already been underway for several million years, this formation contains<em> the first appearance in the fossil record of brachiopods, with clamlike shells, as well as trilobites, mollusks, echinoderms, </em>and many odd animals that probably belong to extinct lineages. They include Opabinia, with five eyes and a nose like a fire hose, and Wiwaxia, an armored slug with two rows of upright scales.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1146619658695179002006-05-02T17:57:00.000-07:002006-05-03T18:25:32.216-07:00How Do Shelled Sea Creatures Reproduce?<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/1600/clam_reproduction_01.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/400/clam_reproduction_01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/1600/clam_reproduction_02.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/400/clam_reproduction_02.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">Terri K. Hathaway</a>: In the top photo and on the left venus in the bottom photo, I think that you have an oyster shell on the cross-barred venus clams (<em>Chione cancellata</em>). Venus clams bury, they don't attach to other things. In the bottom photo, on the shell to the right, it looks like the bottom plates of barnacles, but I can't be sure from that photo.<br /><br /><blockquote><em>Sharon: Many of these shell creatures (to my knowledge) reproduce a-sexually ... and I'm curious if that may help explain why they've changed so little over the millions of years. Perhaps it has nothing to do with, perhaps it does to some degree, --how different are cloning and a-sexual reproduction? Basically the same DNA is being passed from generation to generation, or perhaps not? And, where do they get their coloration from? Genetic, or the food they eat?</em></blockquote><a href="http://library.furman.edu/staff/babinski.htm" target="_blank">Edward T. Babinski</a>: About shelled-species, a lot of them reproduce sexually and lay eggs, and the new little hatchlings are free-swimming little critters without a shell, until after they settle down somewhere, gluing themselves to their new home-base and acquiring a shell. Barnacles do it that way. I figure clams, oysters and mussels do things that way too. Crabs and other crustacea have an exo-skeleton, not a "shell" in the sense in which clams and snails do.<br /><br />Most species do not change considerably over millions of years because evolution is a branching process. In other words bacteria didn't become extinct once multi-cellular organisms arose.<br /><br />Think of it this way, trees don't lose their roots as they grow up and out of the soil and start growing limbs and branches. Primates branched off into a number of larger brained species, including the extinct species, homo habilus, homo erectus, and homo neanderthalus. But even though larger brained primates like homo sapiens evolved, there are still monkeys and apes. By the way, Answers in Genesis warns modern day creationists in their article on "<a href="http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/dont_use.asp" target="_blank">Arguments Creationists Should Not Use</a>," not to bother using the argument, "If humans evolved from apes, why are there still apes?" <br /><br /><em>Sharon: Interesting. Starfish reproduce sexually and a-sexually, and have an exo-skeleton too.</em><br /><blockquote style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1"><br />Echinoderms are armored animals that have a hard exoskeleton made of interlocking calcium carbonate plates and spines. These slow-moving creatures have a water-vascular system (a rudimentary circulatory system), water-filled channels that go through the body. The oldest-known fossil echinoderm is Arkarua, which lived in pre-Cambrian times, during the Vendian period, roughly 560 million years ago, in what is now Australia.<br />Some echinoderms include sea stars (also called starfish), brittle stars (which includes basket stars), sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sand dollars, and crinoids (also called feather stars, which have a soft body surrounded by upwards-facing arms). Classification: Kingdom Animalia (animals), Phylum Echinodermata.<br /><a href="http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/invertebrates/echinoderm/" target="_blank">Echinoderm</a><br /><br />Starfish: First submission<br />Starfish may reproduce either sexually or asexually. When asexual reproduction takes place, the animal breaks itself into two pieces. ...<br /><a href="http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/fieldcourses03/OutlinemarineecologyArticles/Starfish.Firstsubmission.html" target="_blank">Star Fish</a><br /><br />asexual reproduction@Everything2.com<br />Many plants and 'lower animals' reproduce both sexually and asexually; there are some ... When environmental conditions become favourable, the outer shell ...<br /><a href="http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=asexual%20reproduction">Reproduction</a><br /><br /></blockquote><blockquote><em>Sharon: I have noticed some of the shells within a species have nearly identical colors and markings, while other species have shells with a variety of colors / markings.</em></blockquote><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">Terri K. Hathaway</a>: Some markings and colors are under genetic control. The coloration of other species are dependent on their diet, so there can really be no generalizations about marking and colors<br /><br /><blockquote><em>Sharon: do any shelled animals that you are aware of, reproduce a-sexually?</em></blockquote><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">Terri K. Hathaway</a>: You need to be specific when you talk about "shelled" animals to make sure everyone is on the same page -- we're talking about the phylum <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mollusc" target="_blank">Mollusca</a></em>. Sometimes people refer to shellfish when talking about seafood -- most of the time the term "shellfish" refers to molluscs, like oysters and clams, etc. and to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crustacean" target="_blank">crustaceans</a> (crabs, shrimp, etc.) which are arthropods, not molluscs.<br /><br />I don't know of any molluscs that reproduce asexually, but I could be mistaken.<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://library.furman.edu/staff/babinski.htm" target="_blank">Edward T. Babinski</a>: About shelled-species, a lot of them reproduce sexually and lay eggs, and that the new little hatchlings were free-swimming little critters without a shell, until after they settled down somewhere, gluing themselves to their new home-base and acquiring a shell. Barnacles do it that way. I figured clams, oysters and mussels did things that way too. Crabs and other crustacea have an exo-skeleton, not a "shell" in the sense in which clams and snails do.</blockquote><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">Terri K. Hathaway</a>: Again, be careful about referring to "shelled species" -- barnacles are crustaceans, like crabs and shrimp.<br /><br />With reproduction, molluscs have external fertilization (with broadcast spawning where eggs and sperm are shed into and mix in the water column) and internal fertilization. Some species do it one way, others another. Some species are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monoecious" target="_blank">monoecious</a> (both sexes in one organism); others are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dioecious" target="_blank">dioecious</a> (male and female in separate organisms). I think they're very complicated!<br /><br /><blockquote><em>Sharon: Starfish reproduce sexually and a-sexually, and have an exo-skeleton too.</em></blockquote><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">Terri K. Hathaway</a>: Sea stars belong to the phylum <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinoderm" target="_blank">Echinodermata</a></em> -- they're neither molluscs nor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Arthropods" target="_blank">arthropods</a> -- a different group of animals!<br /><br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1146590382638582362006-05-02T10:02:00.000-07:002006-05-02T10:19:42.646-07:00Shark Eye Moon Snail, Polinices duplicatus<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/1600/shark_eye_moon_snail_02.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/400/shark_eye_moon_snail_02.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/1600/shark_eye_moon_snail_03.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/400/shark_eye_moon_snail_03.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/1600/shark_eye_moon_snail_01.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/400/shark_eye_moon_snail_01.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><blockquote><br />Yep, you have another moon snail/shark eye. <em>Polinices duplicatus</em><br /><br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org/" target="_blank">http://www.ncseagrant.org/</a><br /></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27230557.post-1146543928620036692006-05-01T21:17:00.000-07:002006-05-02T09:53:42.503-07:00Giant Razor Shell - Jackknife Clam<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/1600/large_razor_shell_001.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/400/large_razor_shell_001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/1600/large_razor_shell_003.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/400/large_razor_shell_003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/1600/large_razor_shell_002.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1960/2240/400/large_razor_shell_002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I found this shell on the beach last week, and wanted to share before calling it an evening. It's the first one I've seen <strong>this</strong> big. Most are half the size, usually smaller.<br /><br />The shell book I am referring to, lists two species, but none are measuring this size.<br />"Green Jackknife Clam" <em>Solen viridis</em>, 2" measurement, Rhode Island to Northern Florida and Gulf of Mexico.<br />and, "Jackknife Clam", <em>Ensis minor</em>, 2-3" measurement, commonly found from Florida to Texas.<br /><br /><em><strong>Correction</strong></em>:<br /><br />I'm a constant beachcomber (with a degree in marine biology) and hope I can help you.<br />What I think you have is the <strong>Atlantic jackknife clam</strong> (<em>Ensis directus</em>) which is found from Canada to SC and grows to 5 inches.<br />Terri K. Hathaway<br />Marine Education Specialist<br />North Carolina Sea Grant<br /><a href="http://www.ncseagrant.org" target="_blank">www.ncseagrant.org</a><br /><br /><hr /><br />Hello Sharon, I am by no means a mollusk expert but I used to live in Nova Scotia and I think the large razor clam you found may be a common razor clam (<em>Ensis directus</em>) that I remember seeing up there as a child. They get quite large 3-8" in length, ranges from Labrador to South Carolina. And external coloration can vary.<br /><br />I found this on the <a href="http://www.enature.com" target="_blank">www.enature.com</a> website.<br /><br /><strong>Common Razor Clam <em>Ensis directus</em></strong><br /><a href="http://www.enature.com/wildlifelists/wildlifelist_addSpecies.asp?speciesID=4771" target="_blank">enature.com wildlife list speciesID 4771</a><br /><a href="http://www.enature.com/ecard/ecard_create.asp?imageID=19495" target="_blank">enature.com imageID 19495</a><br /><br />enlarge +<br /><a href="http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/enlarged.asp?imageID=19495" target="_blank">enature.com field guides imageID 19495</a><br /><br />Common Razor Clam<br />© E. R. Degginger<br /><a href="http://www.enature.com/fotog/fotog_gallery.asp?fotogID=631" target="_blank">enature.com foto gallery ID 631</a><br />Photo Researchers, Inc.<br /><a href="http://www.enature.com/fotog/agency_gallery.asp?agencyID=7" target="_blank">enature.com agencyID=7</a><br /><br />Family: Solenidae, Razor Clams view all from this family<br /><a href="http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/view_default.asp?curGroupID=9&curFamilyID=646">enature.com field guides FamilyID 646</a><br /><br />Description 3-8" (7.6-20.3 cm) long. Elongately oblong, slightly curved; both ends strongly squared off, front lower corner rounded; umbones at front end; a low, flat, broadening ridge runs from umbones to hind end; ligament moderately long, narrow. Exterior whitish; periostracum olive-green, grayish on ridge; smooth except for fine growth lines that become vertical on ridge, and above it turn back toward umbones.<br />Interior bluish-white; 2 small, vertical central teeth in left valve, 1 narrow central tooth in right valve; a long side tooth in each valve behind central teeth.<br /><br />Habitat In sand intertidally.<br /><br />Range Labrador to South Carolina.<br /><br />Discussion These clams are common on tidal flats in New England, where they burrow vertically into the sand with their strong foot. They make good eating and are frequently sold in local markets. The related Minor Jackknife Clam (E. minor) is smaller, more slender, and paler; it is found from New Jersey to Florida and Texas.<br /><br />Interesting webpage you have.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Tina MooreUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0