Jewel Boxes and Kitten's Paws

I've been sorting through my shell collection lately and realizing how similar many shells are. So here's another post with shell comparisons.

Here are my Jewel Boxes:

First is the Florida Spiny Jewel Box. These mollusks attach themselves to shells, corals and pebbles when young, but eventually become free and just lie on the sea floor. I've found these shells in North Carolina and both coasts of Florida.

Next is the Corrugate Jewel Box- it looks kinda like a deformed Kitten's Paw. I've found all my Corrugate Jewel Boxes on Sanibel.

And here is the Kitten's Paw! These little shells are scallops and they are commonly found in Florida beaches due to their toughness. However. Their left valves are most commonly found because the right valve shells remain attached to rocks and rubble.

And here's a comparison between the Corrugate Jewel Box (left) and Kitten's Paw (right). As you can see, both shells are approximately the same size and reddish-orange and white coloring. However, the Kitten's Paw has several well defined ridges that sorta look like fingers while the Corrugate Jewel Box is just a shapeless blob.

Finally, here is the beautiful and delicate Leafy Jewel Box. These shells are generally yellow, but can also be found in orange and lavender colors.

And here is a comparison of al four shells (from left to right): Leafy Jewel Box, Corrugate Jewel Box, Kitten's Paw and Florida Spiny Jewel Box. The Florida Spiny Jewel Box is the biggest and can be told apart by its spikes. The other ones are about the same size, but vary either in color or shape.

I hope that was helpful and that you'll dive into your shell collection right now to sort your Jewel Boxes!

Have fun,

Lava of Ocean Dawn :)

Snow-white Seashells

In the absence of some snow-white snow, or just some snow, I have decided to look through my collection at the snow-white seashells that I have. Hope that some snow will come soon!!!!!!!

 

Let's start with some Wentletraps. These are all Angulate Wentletraps, except for the one that is perfectly vertical in the center. That one is a Humphrey's Wentletrap- it is more stretched out and the ridges are not as sharp-looking. I'll do a post and the wentletraps soon!

These here are Pennsylvania Lucines. I found a bunch of these in Fort Lauderdale on the East Coast of Florida.

The Sailor's Ear or Channeled Duck Clam. The hind-ends of this shells is flared so that the siphon protrudes.

The White baby's Ear contains a foot tat cannot be withdrawn into the shell, due to the shell being rather flat.

The Florida Spiny Jewelbox live cemented to reefs and debris at medium depths. But Florida Spiny Jewelboxes detach when still young and live freely among the sand and rubble.

The Buttercup Lucine isn't perfectly white, you can see the beautiful yellow on the inside of the shell, but I just had to include it! Both these shells and Pennsylvania Lucines can live in depths of up to 300 feet.

 

 

These are Dosinias. These mollusks have strong hinge ligaments that stay attached long after the mollusk dies. That is why you can often find double Dosinias on the beach.

 

And finally, before I go, here is a seashell pendant that I made today.

 

Bye for now!

Yaroshelllava :D

Flying in on Buttefly Wings

So today is Friday. YAY!!!!
And in exactly a week, it's my birthday!!!
Yep, that's right, on Friday, February 28th, I'm turning 16!
But it's not next week yet, so let's stick to today.
Time will fly past as it is, no use rushing it. :D

Speaking of flying, you know what else flies?
Butterflies.
And you know what they use?
Wings!

So today, I'll just show you a bunch of shell "butterfly wings" ( or bivalves).

This shell is called the Sunray Venus. I found it last March on Sanibel Island. I absolutely love this shell!

The Atlantic Wing(ed) Oyster! Same as yesterday, but the two shells do look like wings, sort of....

Kitty's Paws! A smaller version of the great Lion's Paw (which I still want to find). There were lots of these minis on Sanibel.

Two pairs of Florida Spiny Jewel Boxes. But don't let the name fool ya! These shells are the same as roses: thorny, yet sweet. Also, they can be found as far north as North Carolina so don't get upset if you don't have s house in Florida, yet! ;)

 

And lastly, the Cross-barred Venus. It's not closely related to the Sunray Venus, and no longer are both shells in the Venus genus, but they still kept the name.

 

That's it for right now, I have swimming tonight. Yesterday, I had horseback riding and tomorrow I have the second day of my internship (SUPER EXCITED!!!), theatre and shopping. This just gives you a glance at my busy schedule, so don't be mad if I don't post for a coupla days.

 

See ya soon!

Yaroslava :D