{
    "title": "Seashell",
    "original_title": "Seashell",
    "pageid": "80849",
    "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seashell",
    "_content": "A seashell or sea shell, also known simply as a shell, is a hard, protective outer layer usually created by an animal or organism that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washed up on beaches by beachcombers. The shells are empty because the animal has died and the soft parts have decomposed or been eaten by another animal.\nA seashell is usually the exoskeleton of an invertebrate (an animal without a backbone), and is typically composed of calcium carbonate or chitin. Most shells that are found on beaches are the shells of marine mollusks, partly because these shells are usually made of calcium carbonate, and endure better than shells made of chitin.\nApart from mollusk shells, other shells that can be found on beaches are those of barnacles, horseshoe crabs and brachiopods. Marine annelid worms in the family Serpulidae create shells which are tubes made of calcium carbonate cemented onto other surfaces. The shells of sea urchins are called \"tests\", and the moulted shells of crabs and lobsters are exuviae. While most seashells are external, some cephalopods have internal shells.\nSeashells have been used by humans for many different purposes throughout history and prehistory. However, seashells are not the only kind of shells; in various habitats, there are shells from freshwater animals such as freshwater mussels and freshwater snails, and shells of land snails.\n\n\n== Terminology ==\nWhen the word \"seashells\" refers only to the shells of marine mollusks, then studying seashells is part of conchology. Conchologists or serious collectors who have a scientific bias are in general careful not to disturb living populations and habitats: even though they may collect a few live animals, most responsible collectors do not often over-collect or otherwise disturb ecosystems.\nThe study of the entire molluscan animal (as well as the shell) is known as malacology; a person who studies mollusks is known as a malacologist.\n\n\n== Occurrence ==\nSeashells are commonly found in beach drift, which is natural detritus deposited along strandlines on beaches by the waves and the tides. Shells are very often washed up onto a beach empty and clean, the animal having already died.\nEmpty seashells are often picked up by beachcombers. However, the majority of seashells which are offered for sale commercially have been collected alive (often in bulk) and then killed and cleaned, specifically for the commercial trade. This type of large-scale exploitation can sometimes have a strong negative impact on local ecosystems, and sometimes can significantly reduce the distribution of rare species.\n\n\n== Shell synthesis ==\nSeashells are created by the molluscs that use them for protection. Molluscs have an outside layer of tissues on their bodies \u2013 the mantle \u2013 which creates the shell material and which connects the shell to the mollusc. The specialized cells in the mantle form the shell using different minerals and proteins. The proteins are then used to create the framework that supports the growing shell. Calcium carbonate is the main compound of shell structure, aiding in adhesion.\n\n\n== Molluscan seashells ==\n\nThe word seashell is often used to mean only the shell of a marine mollusk. Marine mollusk shells that are familiar to beachcombers and thus most likely to be called \"seashells\" are the shells of marine species of bivalves (or clams), gastropods (or snails), scaphopods (or tusk shells), polyplacophorans (or chitons), and cephalopods (such as nautilus and spirula). These shells are very often the most commonly encountered, both in the wild, and for sale as decorative objects.\nMarine species of gastropods and bivalves are more numerous than land and freshwater species, and the shells are often larger and more robust. The shells of marine species also often have more sculpture and more color, although this is by no means always the case.\nIn the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the planet, there are far more species of colorful, large, shallow water shelled marine mollusks than there are in the temperate zones and the regions closer to the poles.\nAlthough there are a number of species of shelled mollusks that are quite large, there are vast numbers of extremely small species too, see micromollusks.\nNot all mollusks are marine. There are numerous land and freshwater mollusks, see for example snail and freshwater bivalves. In addition, not all mollusks have an external shell: some mollusks such as some cephalopods (squid and octopuses) have an internal shell, and many mollusks have no shell, see for example slug and nudibranch.\n\n\n=== Bivalves ===\n\nBivalves are often the most common seashells that wash up on large sandy beaches or in sheltered lagoons. They can sometimes be extremely numerous. Very often the two valves become separated.\nThere are more than 15,000 species of bivalves that live in both marine and freshwater.  Examples of bivalves are clams, scallops, mussels, and oysters. The majority of bivalves consist of two identical shells that are held together by a flexible hinge.  The animal's body is held protectively inside these two shells. Bivalves that do not have two shells either have one shell or they lack a shell altogether. The shells are made of calcium carbonate and are formed in layers by secretions from the mantle. Bivalves, also known as pelecypods, are mostly filter feeders; through their gills, they draw in water, in which is trapped tiny food particles.  Some bivalves have eyes and an open circulatory system.  Bivalves are used all over the world as food and as a source of pearls. The larvae of some freshwater mussels can be dangerous to fish and can bore through wood.\nShell Beach, Western Australia, is a beach which is entirely made up of the shells of the cockle Fragum erugatum.\n\n\n=== Gastropods ===\n\nCertain species of gastropod seashells (the shells of sea snails) can sometimes be common, washed up on sandy beaches, and also on beaches that are surrounded by rocky marine habitat.\n\n\n=== Polyplacophorans ===\n\nChiton plates or valves often wash up on beaches in rocky areas where chitons are common. Chiton shells, which are composed of eight separate plates and a girdle, usually come apart not long after death, so they are almost always found as disarticulated plates. Plates from larger species of chitons are sometimes known as \"butterfly shells\" because of their shape.\n\n\n=== Cephalopods ===\n\nOnly a few species of cephalopods have shells (either internal or external) that are sometimes found washed up on beaches.\nSome cephalopods such as Sepia, the cuttlefish, have a large internal shell, the cuttlefish bone, and this often washes up on beaches in parts of the world where cuttlefish are common.\nSpirula spirula is a deep water squid-like cephalopod. It has an internal shell which is small (about 1 in or 24 mm) but very light and buoyant. This chambered shell floats very well and therefore washes up easily and is familiar to beachcombers in the tropics.\nNautilus is the only genus of cephalopod that has a well-developed external shell. Females of the cephalopod genus Argonauta create a papery egg case which sometimes washes up on tropical beaches and is referred to as a \"paper nautilus\".\nThe largest group of shelled cephalopods, the ammonites, are extinct, but their shells are very common in certain areas as fossils.\n\n\n=== Molluscan seashells used by other animals ===\nEmpty molluscan seashells are a sturdy, and usually readily available, \"free\" resource which is often easily found on beaches, in the intertidal zone, and in the shallow subtidal zone.  As such they are sometimes used second-hand by animals other than humans for various purposes, including for protection (as in hermit crabs) and for construction.\n\n\n==== Mollusks ====\nCarrier shells in the family Xenophoridae are marine shelled gastropods, fairly large sea snails. Most species of xenophorids cement a series of objects to the rim of their shells as they grow. These objects are sometimes small pebbles or other hard detritus. Very often shells of bivalves or smaller gastropods are used, depending on what is available on the particular substrate where the snail itself lives. It is not clear whether these shell attachments serve as camouflage, or whether they are intended to help prevent the shell sinking into a soft substrate.\nSmall octopuses sometimes use an empty shell as a sort of cave to hide in, or hold seashells around themselves as a form of protection like a temporary fortress.\n\n\n==== Invertebrates ====\n\nAlmost all genera of hermit crabs use or \"wear\" empty marine gastropod shells throughout their lifespan, in order to protect their soft abdomens, and in order to have a strong shell to withdraw into if attacked by a predator. Each individual hermit crab is forced to find another gastropod shell on a regular basis, whenever it grows too large for the one it is currently using.Some hermit crab species live on land and may be found quite some distance from the sea, including those in the tropical genus Coenobita.\n\n\n=== Conchology ===\n\nThere are numerous popular books and field guides on the subject of shell-collecting. Although there are a number of books about land and freshwater mollusks, the majority of popular books emphasize, or focus exclusively on, the shells of marine mollusks. Both the science of studying mollusk shells and the hobby of collecting and classifying them are known as conchology. The line between professionals and amateur enthusiasts is often not well defined in this subject, because many amateurs have contributed to, and continue to contribute to, conchology and the larger science of malacology. Many shell collectors belong to \"shell clubs\" where they can meet others who share their interests. A large number of amateurs collect the shells of marine mollusks, and this is partly because many shells wash up empty on beaches, or live in the intertidal or sub-tidal zones, and are therefore easily found and preserved without much in the way of specialized equipment or expensive supplies. Some shell collectors find their own material and keep careful records, or buy only \"specimen shells\", which means shells which have full collecting data: information including how, when, where, in what habitat, and by whom, the shells were collected. On the other hand, some collectors buy the more widely available commercially imported exotic shells, the majority of which have very little data, or none at all. To museum scientists, having full collecting data (when, where, and by whom it was collected) with a specimen is far more important than having the shell correctly identified. Some owners of shell collections hope to be able to donate their collection to a major natural history or zoology museum at some point, however, shells with little or no collecting data are usually of no value to science, and are likely not to be accepted by a major museum. Apart from any damage to the shell that may have happened before it was collected, shells can also suffer damage when they are stored or displayed. For an example of one rather serious kind of damage see Byne's disease.\n\n\n==== Shell clubs ====\nThere are a number of clubs or societies which consist of people who are united by a shared interest in shells. In the US, these clubs are more common in southerly coastal areas, such as Florida and California, where the marine fauna is rich in species.\n\n\n==== Identification ====\nSeashells are usually identified by consulting general or regional shell-collecting field guides, and specific scientific books on different taxa of shell-bearing mollusks (monographs) or \"iconographies\" (limited text \u2013 mainly photographs or other illustrations). (For a few titles on this subject in the US, see the list of books at the foot of this article.) Identifications to the species level are generally achieved by examining illustrations and written descriptions, rather than by the use of Identification keys, as is often the case in identifying plants and other phyla of invertebrates. The construction of functional keys for the identification of the shells of marine mollusks to the species level can be very difficult, because of the great variability within many species and families. The identification of certain individual species is often very difficult, even for a specialist in that particular family. Some species cannot be differentiated on the basis of shell character alone.\nNumerous smaller and more obscure mollusk species (see micromollusk) are yet to be discovered and named. In other words, they have not yet been differentiated from similar species and assigned scientific (binomial) names in articles in journals recognized by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). Large numbers of new species are published in the scientific literature each year. There are currently an estimated 100,000 species of mollusks worldwide.\n\n\n==== Non-marine \"seashells\" ====\n\nThe term seashell is also applied loosely to mollusk shells that are not of marine origin, for example by people walking the shores of lakes and rivers using the term for the freshwater mollusk shells they encounter.  Seashells purchased from tourist shops or dealers may include various freshwater and terrestrial shells as well.  Non-marine items offered may include large and colorful tropical land snail shells, freshwater apple snail shells, and pearly freshwater unionid mussel shells.  This can be confusing to collectors, as non-marine shells are often not included in their reference books.\n\n\n=== Cultural significance ===\n\n\n==== Currency ====\n\nSeashells have been used as a medium of exchange in various places, including many Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean islands, also in North America, Africa and the Caribbean.\n\nThe most common species of shells to be used as currency have been Monetaria moneta, the \"money cowry\", and certain dentalium tusk shells, used in North Western North America for many centuries.\nMany of the tribes and nations all across the continent of Africa have historically used the cowry as their media of exchange. The cowry circulated, historically, alongside metal coins and goods, and foreign currencies. Being durable and easy to carry the cowry made a very favorable currency.\nSome tribes of the indigenous peoples of the Americas used shells for wampum and hair pipes. The Native American wampum belts were made of the shell of the quahog clam.\n\n\n==== Tools ====\nSeashells have often been used as tools, because of their strength and the variety of their shapes.\n\nGiant clams (Family Tridacnidae) have been used as bowls, and when big enough, even as bathtubs and baptismal fonts.\nMelo melo, the \"bailer volute\", is so named because Native Australians used it to bail out their canoes.\nMany different species of bivalves have been used as scrapers, blades, clasps, and other such tools, due to their shape.\nSome marine gastropods have been used for oil lamps, the oil being poured in the aperture of the shell, and the siphonal canal serving as a holder for the wick.\n\n\n==== Horticulture ====\nBecause seashells are in some areas a readily available bulk source of calcium carbonate, shells such as oyster shells are sometimes used as soil conditioners in horticulture. The shells are broken or ground into small pieces in order to have the desired effect of raising the pH and increasing the calcium content in the soil.\n\n\n==== Religion and spirituality ====\n\nSeashells have played a part in religion and spirituality, sometimes even as ritual objects.\n\nIn Christianity, the scallop shell is considered to be the symbol of Saint James the Great, see Pecten jacobaeus.\nIn Hinduism, left-handed shells of Turbinella pyrum (the sacred shankha) are considered to be sacred to the god Vishnu. The person who finds a left-handed chank shell (one that coils to the left) is sacred to Vishnu, as well. The chank shell also plays an important role in Buddhism.\nCowries have often been considered to be symbols of female fertility. They were often treated as actual fertility charms. The dorsum of the shell resembles a pregnant belly, and the underside of the shell resembles a vulva. In the South Indian state of Kerala, cowries are used for making astrological predictions.\nIn the Santer\u00eda religion, shells are used for divination.\nThe Moche culture of ancient Peru worshipped animals and the sea, and often depicted shells in their art.\nIn Christianity, the top of the sand dollar represents the Star of Bethlehem that led the Wise Men to the manger of Christ. Outside the \"star\" you will see the Easter Lily, a sign of Jesus' Resurrection. There are four holes that represent the holes in the Lord's hands and feet. The center hole is the Wound to His Sacred Heart by the spear of Longinus. On the other side of the sand dollar, you will see Poinsettia. Lastly, if you break open the sand dollar, five doves will come out, the doves of Peace and Joy.\n\n\n==== Musical instruments ====\n\nSeashells have been used as musical instruments, wind instruments for many hundreds if not thousands of years. Most often the shells of large sea snails are used, as trumpets, by cutting a hole in the spire of the shell or cutting off the tip of the spire altogether. Various different kinds of large marine gastropod shells can be turned into \"blowing shells\", however the most commonly encountered species used as \"conch\" trumpets are:\n\nThe sacred chank, Turbinella pyrum, known in India as the shankha. In Tibet it is known as \"dung-dkar\".\nThe Triton shell also known as \"Triton's trumpet\" Charonia tritonis which is used as a trumpet in Melanesian and Polynesian culture and also in Korea and Japan. In Japan this kind of trumpet is known as the horagai. In Korea it is known as the nagak. In some Polynesian islands it is known as \"pu\".\nThe Queen Conch Lobatus gigas, has been used as a trumpet in the Caribbean.Children in some cultures are often told the myth that you can hear the sound of the ocean by holding a seashell to ones ear. This is due to the effect of seashell resonance.\n\n\n==== Personal adornment ====\n\nWhole seashells or parts of sea shells have been used as jewelry or in other forms of adornment since prehistoric times. Mother of pearl was historically primarily a seashell product, although more recently some mother of pearl comes from freshwater mussels. Also see pearl.\n\nShell necklaces have been found in Stone Age graves as far inland as the Dordogne Valley in France.\nSeashells are often used whole and drilled, so that they can be threaded like beads, or cut into pieces of various shapes. Sometimes shells can be found that are already \"drilled\" by predatory snails of the family Naticidae. Fine whole shell necklaces were made by Tasmanian Aboriginal women for more than 2,600 years. The necklaces represent a significant cultural tradition which is still practised by Palawa women elders. The shells used include pearly green and blue-green maireener (rainbow kelp) shells, brown and white rice shells, black cats' teeth shells and pink button shells.\nNaturally-occurring, beachworn, cone shell \"tops\" (the broken-off spire of the shell, which often has a hole worn at the tip) can function as beads without any further modification. In Hawaii these natural beads were traditionally collected from the beach drift in order to make puka shell jewelry. Since it is hard to obtain large quantities of naturally-occurring beachworn cone tops, almost all modern puka shell jewelry uses cheaper imitations, cut from thin shells of other species of mollusk, or even made of plastic.\nShells historically have been and still are made into, or incorporated into, necklaces, pendants, beads, earrings, buttons, brooches, rings, hair combs, belt buckles and other uses.\nThe shell of the large  \"bullmouth helmet\" sea snail, scientific name Cypraecassis rufa, was historically, and still is, used to make valuable cameos.\nMother of pearl from many seashells including species in the family Trochidae, Turbinidae, Haliotidae, and various pearly bivalves, has often been used in jewelry, buttons, etc.\nIn London, Pearly Kings and Queens traditionally wear clothing covered in patterns made up of hundreds of \"pearl buttons\", in other words, buttons made of mother-of-pearl or nacre. In recent years however, the majority of \"pearl buttons\" are imitations that are made of pearlescent plastic.\n\n\n==== Creating Crafts ====\n\n\"Sailor's Valentines\" were late 19th-century decorative keepsakes which were made from the Caribbean, and which were often purchased by sailors to give to their loved ones back home for example in England. These valentines consisted of elaborate arrangements of small seashells glued into attractive symmetrical designs, which were encased on a wooden (usually octagonal) hinged box-frame. The patterns used often featured heart-shaped designs, or included a sentimental expression of love spelled out in small shells.\nThe making of shell work artifacts is a practice of Aboriginal women from La Perouse in Sydney, dating back to the 19th century. Shell work objects include baby shoes, jewelry boxes and replicas of famous landmarks, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. The shellwork tradition began as an Aboriginal women's craft which was adapted and tailored to suit the tourist souvenir market, and which is now considered high art.\n\n\n==== Architectural decoration ====\nSmall pieces of colored and iridescent shell have been used to create mosaics and inlays, which have been used to decorate walls, furniture and boxes. Large numbers of whole seashells, arranged to form patterns, have been used to decorate mirror frames, furniture and man-made shell grottos.\n\n\n==== Art ====\n\nA very large outdoor sculpture at Akkulam of a gastropod seashell is a reference to the sacred chank shell Turbinella pyrum of India. In 2003, Maggi Hambling designed a striking 13 ft (4 m) high sculpture of a scallop shell which stands on the beach at Aldeburgh, in England. The goddess of love, Venus or Aphrodite, is often traditionally depicted rising from the sea on a seashell.  In The Birth of Venus, Botticelli depicted the goddess Venus rising from the ocean on a scallop shell.\n\n\n==== Poultry feeds ====\nSea shells found in the creek and backwater of the coast of west India are used as an additive to poultry feed. They are crushed and mixed with jowar maize and dry fish.\n\n\n=== Use ===\nSeashells, namely from bivalves and gastropods, are fundamentally composed of calcium carbonate. In this sense, they have potential to be used as raw material in the production of lime.\n Along the Gulf Coast of the United States, oyster shells were mixed into cement to make \"shellcrete\" which could form bricks, blocks and platforms. It could also be applied over logs. A notable example is the 19th-century Sabine Pass Lighthouse in Louisiana, near Texas.\n\n\n== Shells of other marine invertebrates ==\n\n\n=== Arthropods ===\n\nMany arthropods have sclerites, or hardened body parts, which form a stiff exoskeleton made up mostly of chitin.  In crustaceans, especially those of the class Malacostraca (crabs, shrimps and lobsters, for instance), the plates of the exoskeleton may be fused to form a more or less rigid carapace. Moulted carapaces of a variety of marine malacostraceans often wash up on beaches. The horseshoe crab is an arthropod of the family Limulidae. The shells or exuviae of these arachnid relatives are common in beach drift in certain areas of the world.\n\n\n=== Echinoderms ===\n\nSome echinoderms such as sea urchins, including heart urchins and sand dollars, have a hard \"test\" or shell. After the animal dies, the flesh rots out and the spines fall off, and then fairly often the empty test washes up whole onto a beach, where it can be found by a beachcomber. These tests are fragile and easily broken into pieces.\n\n\n=== Brachiopods ===\n\nThe brachiopods, or lamp shells, superficially resemble clams, but the phylum is not closely related to mollusks. Most lines of brachiopods ended during the Permian-Triassic extinction event, and their ecological niche was filled by bivalves. A few of the remaining species of brachiopods occur in the low intertidal zone and thus can be found live by beachcombers.\n\n\n=== Annelids ===\nSome polychaetes, marine annelid worms in the family Serpulidae, secrete a hard tube made of calcium carbonate, adhering to stones or other shells. This tube resembles, and can be confused with, the shell of marine gastropod mollusks in the family Vermetidae, the worm snails.\n\n\n== Other more atypical kinds ==\nA few other categories of marine animals leave remains which might be considered \"seashells\" in the widest possible sense of the word.\n\n\n=== Chelonians ===\nSea turtles have a carapace and plastron of bone and cartilage which is developed from their ribs. Infrequently a turtle \"shell\" will wash up on a beach.\n\n\n=== Hard corals ===\n\nPieces of the hard skeleton of corals commonly wash up on beaches in areas where corals grow.\nThe construction of the shell-like structures of corals are aided by a symbiotic relationship with a class of algae, zooxanthellae. Typically a coral polyp will harbor particular species of algae, which will photosynthesise and thereby provide energy for the coral and aid in calcification, while living in a safe environment and using the carbon dioxide and nitrogenous waste produced by the polyp.  Coral bleaching is a disruption of the balance between polyps and algae, and can lead to the breakdown and death of coral reefs.\n\n\n=== Soft corals ===\n\nThe skeletons of soft corals such as gorgonians, also known as sea fans and sea whips, commonly wash ashore in the tropics after storms.\n\n\n=== Plankton and protists ===\n\nPlant-like diatoms and animal-like radiolarians are two forms of plankton which form hard silicate shells. Foraminifera and coccolithophores create shells known as \"tests\" which are made of calcium carbonate. These shells and tests are usually microscopic in size, though in the case of foraminifera, they are sometimes visible to the naked eye, often resembling miniature mollusk shells.\n\n\n== See also ==\nBailey-Matthews Shell Museum\nMarine biogenic calcification\nMollusk shell\nOcean acidification\nSeashell resonance\nSeashell surface, a mathematical construct\nShell growth in estuaries\nShell purse\nSmall shelly fauna\n\n\n== References ==\n\n\n=== Citations ===\n\n\n=== Sources ===\n\n\n== External links ==\n\nHohlman Shell Collection, Florida Institute of Technology",
    "_revision_id": 1128906950,
    "_parent_id": 1123840178,
    "_summary": "A seashell or sea shell, also known simply as a shell, is a hard, protective outer layer usually created by an animal or organism that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washed up on beaches by beachcombers. The shells are empty because the animal has died and the soft parts have decomposed or been eaten by another animal.\nA seashell is usually the exoskeleton of an invertebrate (an animal without a backbone), and is typically composed of calcium carbonate or chitin. Most shells that are found on beaches are the shells of marine mollusks, partly because these shells are usually made of calcium carbonate, and endure better than shells made of chitin.\nApart from mollusk shells, other shells that can be found on beaches are those of barnacles, horseshoe crabs and brachiopods. Marine annelid worms in the family Serpulidae create shells which are tubes made of calcium carbonate cemented onto other surfaces. The shells of sea urchins are called \"tests\", and the moulted shells of crabs and lobsters are exuviae. While most seashells are external, some cephalopods have internal shells.\nSeashells have been used by humans for many different purposes throughout history and prehistory. However, seashells are not the only kind of shells; in various habitats, there are shells from freshwater animals such as freshwater mussels and freshwater snails, and shells of land snails.\n\n",
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    "_references": [
        "http://biophysics.sbg.ac.at/png/png3.htm",
        "http://www.nma.gov.au/collections/dulcie_greeno_necklaces",
        "http://www.furious.com/perfect/shells.html",
        "http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Seashell%22",
        "http://www.google.com/search?&q=%22Seashell%22&tbs=bkt:s&tbm=bks",
        "http://www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&q=%22Seashell%22",
        "http://www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&q=%22Seashell%22+-wikipedia&tbs=ar:1",
        "http://www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&q=%22Seashell%22+-wikipedia",
        "http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/BAE/Bulletin164/section2.htm#Shell%20hp",
        "http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/w7191e/w7191e44.pdf",
        "https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/collection/highlights/shellwork-sydney-harbour-bridge",
        "https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1990-11-04-1990308108-story.html",
        "https://books.google.com/books?id=PIkC-rU2NkoC&pg=PA17",
        "https://books.google.com/books?id=_aYaAQAAMAAJ",
        "https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/07/wildlife-watch-seashells-illegal-trade-handicrafts/",
        "https://research.fit.edu/shells/",
        "https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/did-you-know/how-are-seashells-made/",
        "https://web.archive.org/web/20110612010907/http://www.nma.gov.au/collections/dulcie_greeno_necklaces/",
        "https://web.archive.org/web/20120128205517/http://biophysics.sbg.ac.at/png/png3.htm",
        "https://web.archive.org/web/20131021010404/http://www.furious.com/perfect/shells.html",
        "https://web.archive.org/web/20160323070635/http://www.blackhistorypages.net/pages/cowrie.php",
        "https://web.archive.org/web/20190130215018/https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/collection/highlights/shellwork-sydney-harbour-bridge",
        "https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs12649-018-0232-y",
        "https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22Seashell%22&acc=on&wc=on",
        "https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1877-2641"
    ],
    "_links": [
        "Adhesion",
        "Akkulam",
        "Albertus Seba",
        "Aldeburgh",
        "Algae",
        "Alginite",
        "Ammonite",
        "Amorphous calcium carbonate",
        "Amulet",
        "Annelid",
        "Aphrodite",
        "Apple snail",
        "Aragonite",
        "Aragonite sea",
        "Argonaut (animal)",
        "Arthropod",
        "Arthropod cuticle",
        "Arthropod exoskeleton",
        "Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum",
        "Bailing (boats)",
        "Ballast minerals",
        "Baptism",
        "Barnacle",
        "Beach",
        "Beachcombing",
        "Bead",
        "Biocrystallization",
        "Biofilm",
        "Biogenic silica",
        "Biointerface",
        "Biomineralising polychaete",
        "Biomineralization",
        "Bivalve",
        "Bivalve shell",
        "Bivalves",
        "Bivalvia",
        "Bone",
        "Bone bed",
        "Bone mineral",
        "Botticelli",
        "Brachiopod",
        "Brooch",
        "Buddhism",
        "Burgess Shale-type preservation",
        "Button (clothing)",
        "Byne's disease",
        "Calcareous nannofossils",
        "Calcification",
        "Calcite",
        "Calcite sea",
        "Calcium",
        "Calcium carbonate",
        "California",
        "Cambridge",
        "Cambridge University Press",
        "Cameo (carving)",
        "Camouflage",
        "Carapace",
        "Cartilage",
        "Cement",
        "Cephalopod",
        "Cephalopods",
        "Charonia",
        "Charonia tritonis",
        "Chitin",
        "Chiton",
        "Chiton tuberculatus",
        "Choanoflagellate",
        "Cirrate shell",
        "Clacton on Sea",
        "Clam",
        "Coccolith",
        "Coccolithophore",
        "Coccosphere",
        "Cockle (bivalve)",
        "Coenobita",
        "Comb",
        "Conch",
        "Conch (musical instrument)",
        "Conchology",
        "Cone shell",
        "Coral",
        "Coral bleaching",
        "Cowries",
        "Cowry",
        "Crab",
        "Crustacean",
        "Cupriavidus metallidurans",
        "Cuttlebone",
        "Cuttlefish bone",
        "Cypraecassis rufa",
        "Data",
        "Decomposition",
        "Dentalium (anthropology)",
        "Diatom",
        "Diatomaceous earth",
        "Diogenes pugilator",
        "Divination",
        "Doi (identifier)",
        "Dordogne",
        "Druse (botany)",
        "Echinoderm",
        "Ecosystem",
        "Endoskeleton",
        "Engrailed (gene)",
        "Exoskeleton",
        "Exuviae",
        "Fadiouth",
        "Field guide",
        "Florida",
        "Foraminifera",
        "Foraminifera test",
        "Fossil",
        "Fragum erugatum",
        "Freshwater bivalves",
        "Freshwater mollusc",
        "Freshwater mussel",
        "Freshwater snail",
        "Frustule",
        "Gastropod",
        "Gastropod shell",
        "Giant clam",
        "Gladius (cephalopod)",
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        "Great Calcite Belt",
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        "Hawaii",
        "Heart urchin",
        "Hendrick Goltzius",
        "Hermit crab",
        "Hinduism",
        "Horagai",
        "Horseshoe crab",
        "Horticulture",
        "ISBN (identifier)",
        "ISSN (identifier)",
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        "Immobilization (soil science)",
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        "Indigenous peoples of the Americas",
        "Inlay",
        "International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature",
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        "John C. Ewers",
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        "Lady crab",
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        "Larco Museum",
        "Lime (material)",
        "Limpet",
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        "Long Beach, New York",
        "Lorica (biology)",
        "MV Seashell",
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        "Magnetoreception",
        "Magnetosome",
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        "Malacologist",
        "Malacology",
        "Malacostraca",
        "Mantle (mollusc)",
        "Marine (ocean)",
        "Marine biogenic calcification",
        "Melo melo",
        "Microbial mat",
        "Microbiologically induced calcite precipitation",
        "Microfossil",
        "Micromollusk",
        "Mineral (nutrient)",
        "Mineral evolution",
        "Mineralization (soil science)",
        "Mineralized tissues",
        "Moche (culture)",
        "Mollusc shell",
        "Mollusca",
        "Molluscs in culture",
        "Mollusk",
        "Mollusk shell",
        "Monetaria moneta",
        "Monograph",
        "Mosaic",
        "Mother-of-pearl",
        "Mother of pearl",
        "Museum",
        "Nacre",
        "Nagak",
        "Nassarius reticulatus",
        "Naticidae",
        "National Museum of Australia",
        "Nautilus",
        "Nevis",
        "North Wales",
        "Nudibranch",
        "Ocean acidification",
        "Octopus",
        "Oil lamp",
        "Oil shale",
        "Oolitic aragonite sand",
        "Ossification",
        "Otolith",
        "Otolithic membrane",
        "Oyster",
        "PH",
        "Pearl",
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        "Pecten jacobaeus",
        "Permian-Triassic extinction event",
        "Permineralization",
        "Persian Gulf",
        "Peru",
        "Petrifaction",
        "Phosphate",
        "Phosphorite",
        "Photosynthesis",
        "Plankton",
        "Plastron",
        "Playa Grande, Costa Rica",
        "Polychaetes",
        "Polyplacophora",
        "Protein",
        "Protist shell",
        "Protist shells",
        "Puka shell",
        "Pyrena",
        "Quahog",
        "Queen Conch",
        "Radiolarian",
        "Rare species",
        "Remineralisation",
        "Rib",
        "Ring (finger)",
        "Sabine Pass Lighthouse",
        "Sailor's Valentines",
        "Saint James the Great",
        "Sand dollar",
        "Santer\u00eda",
        "Scale microfossils",
        "Scallop",
        "Scaly-foot gastropod",
        "Scaphopod",
        "Sclerite",
        "Sculpture (mollusc)",
        "Sea fan",
        "Sea snail",
        "Sea turtle",
        "Sea urchin",
        "Sea whip",
        "Seashell (color)",
        "Seashell resonance",
        "Seashell surface",
        "Second-hand",
        "Senegal",
        "Senilia senilis",
        "Sepia (genus)",
        "Serpulidae",
        "Seychelles",
        "Shankha",
        "Shell Beach, Western Australia",
        "Shell Island (Wales)",
        "Shell grotto",
        "Shell growth in estuaries",
        "Shell jewelry",
        "Shell money",
        "Shell purse",
        "Silica",
        "Siliceous ooze",
        "Silicification",
        "Siphonal canal",
        "Skeleton",
        "Slug",
        "Small shelly fauna",
        "Snail",
        "Spire (mollusc)",
        "Spirula",
        "Spirula spirula",
        "Sponge spicule",
        "Stereom",
        "Substrate (biology)",
        "Sydney",
        "Sydney Harbour Bridge",
        "Sydney Opera House",
        "Symbiotic",
        "Tasmanian Aboriginal",
        "Test (biology)",
        "Test (zoology)",
        "Testate amoebae",
        "Thames and Hudson",
        "The Birth of Venus (Botticelli)",
        "Thiruvananthapuram",
        "Tibet",
        "Tide",
        "Tool",
        "Travancore",
        "Triton (mollusk)",
        "Trochidae",
        "Tropical",
        "Tropics",
        "Turbinella pyrum",
        "Turbinidae",
        "Turritella",
        "Tusk",
        "Tusk shell",
        "Unionid mussel",
        "Valencia, Spain",
        "Valve (mollusc)",
        "Venus (goddess)",
        "Venus (mythology)",
        "Vermetidae",
        "Vishnu",
        "Volutidae",
        "Vulva",
        "Wales",
        "Wampum",
        "Wave",
        "Wayback Machine",
        "West Indies",
        "Wind instruments",
        "Xenophoridae",
        "Zooxanthella"
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    "_sections": [],
    "_html": "<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><div class=\"shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux\" style=\"display:none\">Hard, protective outer layers created by an animal that lives in the sea</div>\n<style data-mw-deduplicate=\"TemplateStyles:r1033289096\">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}</style><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">For the coaster ship, see <a href=\"/wiki/MV_Seashell\" title=\"MV Seashell\">MV Seashell</a>. For the color, see <a href=\"/wiki/Seashell_(color)\" title=\"Seashell (color)\">Seashell (color)</a>.</div>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096\"/><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Not to be confused with <a href=\"/wiki/Seychelles\" title=\"Seychelles\">Seychelles</a>.</div>\n<style data-mw-deduplicate=\"TemplateStyles:r1097763485\">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}html.client-js body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .mbox-text-span{margin-left:23px!important}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}</style><table class=\"box-More_citations_needed plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove\" role=\"presentation\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"mbox-image\"><div class=\"mbox-image-div\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg\" class=\"image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"512\" data-file-height=\"399\" /></a></div></td><td class=\"mbox-text\"><div class=\"mbox-text-span\">This article <b>needs additional citations for <a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability\" title=\"Wikipedia:Verifiability\">verification</a></b>.<span class=\"hide-when-compact\"> Please help <a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit\">improve this article</a> by <a href=\"/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners\" title=\"Help:Referencing for beginners\">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class=\"plainlinks\"><i>Find sources:</i>&#160;<a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"//www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&amp;q=%22Seashell%22\">\"Seashell\"</a>&#160;\u2013&#160;<a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"//www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&amp;q=%22Seashell%22+-wikipedia&amp;tbs=ar:1\">news</a>&#160;<b>\u00b7</b> <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"//www.google.com/search?&amp;q=%22Seashell%22&amp;tbs=bkt:s&amp;tbm=bks\">newspapers</a>&#160;<b>\u00b7</b> <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"//www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&amp;q=%22Seashell%22+-wikipedia\">books</a>&#160;<b>\u00b7</b> <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"//scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Seashell%22\">scholar</a>&#160;<b>\u00b7</b> <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22Seashell%22&amp;acc=on&amp;wc=on\">JSTOR</a></span></small></span>  <span class=\"date-container\"><i>(<span class=\"date\">January 2009</span>)</i></span><span class=\"hide-when-compact\"><i> (<small><a href=\"/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal\" title=\"Help:Maintenance template removal\">Learn how and when to remove this template message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>\n<p class=\"mw-empty-elt\">\n</p>\n<style data-mw-deduplicate=\"TemplateStyles:r1129693374\">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl 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0.2em;font-size:125%;line-height:1.2em;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-top-image{padding:0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-top-caption,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-pretitle-with-top-image,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-caption{padding:0.2em 0.4em 0;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-pretitle{padding:0.4em 0.4em 0;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{padding:0.2em 0.8em;font-size:145%;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{padding:0.1em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-image{padding:0.2em 0.4em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-heading{padding:0.1em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-content{padding:0 0.5em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-content-with-subgroup{padding:0.1em 0.4em 0.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-above,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-below{padding:0.3em 0.8em;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-collapse .sidebar-above,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-collapse .sidebar-below{border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-navbar{text-align:right;font-size:115%;padding:0 0.4em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-list-title{padding:0 0.4em;text-align:left;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6em;font-size:105%}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-list-title-c{padding:0 0.4em;text-align:center;margin:0 3.3em}@media(max-width:720px){body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .sidebar{width:100%!important;clear:both;float:none!important;margin-left:0!important;margin-right:0!important}}</style><table class=\"sidebar nomobile nowraplinks plainlist\" style=\"width: auto;\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"sidebar-pretitle\">Part of a series on</td></tr><tr><th class=\"sidebar-title-with-pretitle\" style=\"padding-top: 0.2em; background-color: #FADA5E; font-size: 150%;\"><a class=\"mw-selflink selflink\">Seashells</a></th></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-image\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shell_Island_1985.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img alt=\"Shell Island 1985.jpg\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Shell_Island_1985.jpg/100px-Shell_Island_1985.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"85\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Shell_Island_1985.jpg/150px-Shell_Island_1985.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Shell_Island_1985.jpg/200px-Shell_Island_1985.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"2113\" data-file-height=\"1796\" /></a></td></tr><tr><th class=\"sidebar-heading\" style=\"background-color: #FADA5E;\">\n<a href=\"/wiki/Mollusc_shell\" title=\"Mollusc shell\">Mollusc shells</a></th></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Bivalve_shell\" title=\"Bivalve shell\">Clam shells</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Chiton#Shell\" title=\"Chiton\">Chiton shells</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod_shell\" title=\"Gastropod shell\">Snail shells</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Tusk_shell\" title=\"Tusk shell\">Tusk shells</a></li></ul></td>\n</tr><tr><th class=\"sidebar-heading\" style=\"background-color: #FADA5E;\">\nAbout mollusc shells</th></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Conchology\" title=\"Conchology\">Conchology</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Nacre\" title=\"Nacre\">Nacre</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Valve_(mollusc)\" title=\"Valve (mollusc)\">Valve</a></li></ul></td>\n</tr><tr><th class=\"sidebar-heading\" style=\"background-color: #FADA5E;\">\nOther seashells</th></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Brachiopod#Description\" title=\"Brachiopod\">Brachiopod shells</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Crustacean#Structure\" title=\"Crustacean\">Crustacean shells</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Horseshoe_crab\" title=\"Horseshoe crab\">Horseshoe crabs</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Sea_urchin\" title=\"Sea urchin\">Sea urchin tests</a></li></ul></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-navbar\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><style data-mw-deduplicate=\"TemplateStyles:r1063604349\">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:\"[ \"}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:\" ]\"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}</style><div class=\"navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini\"><ul><li class=\"nv-view\"><a href=\"/wiki/Template:Sea_shell_topics\" title=\"Template:Sea shell topics\"><abbr title=\"View this template\">v</abbr></a></li><li class=\"nv-talk\"><a href=\"/wiki/Template_talk:Sea_shell_topics\" title=\"Template talk:Sea shell topics\"><abbr title=\"Discuss this template\">t</abbr></a></li><li class=\"nv-edit\"><a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Sea_shell_topics&amp;action=edit\"><abbr title=\"Edit this template\">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg/220px-Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg/330px-Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg/440px-Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"3072\" data-file-height=\"2304\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Seashells washed up on the beach in <a href=\"/wiki/Valencia,_Spain\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Valencia, Spain\">Valencia, Spain</a>; nearly all are single valves of <a href=\"/wiki/Bivalve\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bivalve\">bivalve</a> <a href=\"/wiki/Mollusk\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mollusk\">mollusks</a>, mostly of <i><a href=\"/wiki/Mactra_corallina\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mactra corallina\">Mactra corallina</a></i></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Selection_of_seashells.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Selection_of_seashells.jpg/220px-Selection_of_seashells.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"239\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Selection_of_seashells.jpg 1.5x\" data-file-width=\"250\" data-file-height=\"272\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Selection_of_seashells.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Hand-picked molluscan seashells (<a href=\"/wiki/Bivalve\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bivalve\">bivalves</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Gastropod\">gastropods</a>) from the beach at <a href=\"/wiki/Clacton_on_Sea\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Clacton on Sea\">Clacton on Sea</a> in England</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashells.JPG\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Seashells.JPG/220px-Seashells.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Seashells.JPG/330px-Seashells.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Seashells.JPG/440px-Seashells.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"3264\" data-file-height=\"2448\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashells.JPG\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>A group of seashells, mostly in the family Pholadidae</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:228px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashell_unknown_3.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Seashell_unknown_3.jpg/226px-Seashell_unknown_3.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"226\" height=\"150\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Seashell_unknown_3.jpg/339px-Seashell_unknown_3.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Seashell_unknown_3.jpg/452px-Seashell_unknown_3.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"4288\" data-file-height=\"2848\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashell_unknown_3.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Mixed shells on a beach in Venezuela</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><video id=\"mwe_player_0\" poster=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/220px--Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.jpg\" controls=\"\" preload=\"none\" class=\"thumbimage\" width=\"220\" height=\"124\" data-durationhint=\"55\" data-mwtitle=\"Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv\" data-mwprovider=\"wikimediacommons\"><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.480p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"SD VP9 (480P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 480P\" data-transcodekey=\"480p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"854\" data-height=\"480\" data-bandwidth=\"994632\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.480p.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp8, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"SD WebM (480P)\" data-shorttitle=\"WebM 480P\" data-transcodekey=\"480p.webm\" data-width=\"854\" data-height=\"480\" data-bandwidth=\"1087368\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.720p.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp8, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"HD WebM (720P)\" data-shorttitle=\"WebM 720P\" data-transcodekey=\"720p.webm\" data-width=\"1280\" data-height=\"720\" data-bandwidth=\"1891728\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.720p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"HD VP9 (720P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 720P\" data-transcodekey=\"720p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"1280\" data-height=\"720\" data-bandwidth=\"2067168\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.1080p.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp8, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"Full HD WebM (1080P)\" data-shorttitle=\"WebM 1080P\" data-transcodekey=\"1080p.webm\" data-width=\"1920\" data-height=\"1080\" data-bandwidth=\"3764112\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.1080p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"Full HD VP9 (1080P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 1080P\" data-transcodekey=\"1080p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"1920\" data-height=\"1080\" data-bandwidth=\"4267600\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv\" type=\"video/ogg; codecs=&quot;theora, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"Original Ogg file, 1,920 \u00d7 1,080 (5.54 Mbps)\" data-shorttitle=\"Ogg source\" data-width=\"1920\" data-height=\"1080\" data-bandwidth=\"5536069\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.120p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"Lowest bandwidth VP9 (120P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 120P\" data-transcodekey=\"120p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"214\" data-height=\"120\" data-bandwidth=\"182472\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.160p.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp8, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"Low bandwidth WebM (160P)\" data-shorttitle=\"WebM 160P\" data-transcodekey=\"160p.webm\" data-width=\"284\" data-height=\"160\" data-bandwidth=\"223968\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.180p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"Low bandwidth VP9 (180P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 180P\" data-transcodekey=\"180p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"320\" data-height=\"180\" data-bandwidth=\"249936\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.240p.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp8, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"Small WebM (240P)\" data-shorttitle=\"WebM 240P\" data-transcodekey=\"240p.webm\" data-width=\"426\" data-height=\"240\" data-bandwidth=\"331184\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.240p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"Small VP9 (240P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 240P\" data-transcodekey=\"240p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"426\" data-height=\"240\" data-bandwidth=\"338944\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.360p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"VP9 (360P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 360P\" data-transcodekey=\"360p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"640\" data-height=\"360\" data-bandwidth=\"563816\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.360p.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp8, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"WebM (360P)\" data-shorttitle=\"WebM 360P\" data-transcodekey=\"360p.webm\" data-width=\"640\" data-height=\"360\" data-bandwidth=\"583104\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /></video>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div><a href=\"/wiki/Hermit_crab\" title=\"Hermit crab\">Hermit crabs</a> inhabiting shells that lived in the <a href=\"/wiki/Persian_Gulf\" title=\"Persian Gulf\">Persian Gulf</a></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Different_types_of_shells.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Different_types_of_shells.jpg/220px-Different_types_of_shells.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"164\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Different_types_of_shells.jpg/330px-Different_types_of_shells.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Different_types_of_shells.jpg/440px-Different_types_of_shells.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"2592\" data-file-height=\"1936\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Different_types_of_shells.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>A group of beachworn shells that vary in size, form and pattern combination.</div></div></div>\n<p>A <b>seashell</b> or <b>sea shell</b>, also known simply as a <b>shell</b>, is a hard, protective outer layer usually created by an animal or organism that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washed up on <a href=\"/wiki/Beach\" title=\"Beach\">beaches</a> by <a href=\"/wiki/Beachcombing\" title=\"Beachcombing\">beachcombers</a>. The shells are empty because the animal has died and the soft parts have <a href=\"/wiki/Decomposition\" title=\"Decomposition\">decomposed</a> or been eaten by another animal.\n</p><p>A seashell is usually the <a href=\"/wiki/Exoskeleton\" title=\"Exoskeleton\">exoskeleton</a> of an <a href=\"/wiki/Invertebrate\" title=\"Invertebrate\">invertebrate</a> (an animal without a backbone), and is typically composed of <a href=\"/wiki/Calcium_carbonate\" title=\"Calcium carbonate\">calcium carbonate</a> or <a href=\"/wiki/Chitin\" title=\"Chitin\">chitin</a>. Most shells that are found on beaches are the shells of <a href=\"/wiki/Marine_(ocean)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Marine (ocean)\">marine</a> <a href=\"/wiki/Mollusk\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mollusk\">mollusks</a>, partly because these shells are usually made of calcium carbonate, and endure better than shells made of chitin.\n</p><p>Apart from <a href=\"/wiki/Mollusk_shell\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mollusk shell\">mollusk shells</a>, other shells that can be found on beaches are those of <a href=\"/wiki/Barnacle\" title=\"Barnacle\">barnacles</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Horseshoe_crab\" title=\"Horseshoe crab\">horseshoe crabs</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Brachiopod\" title=\"Brachiopod\">brachiopods</a>. Marine <a href=\"/wiki/Annelid\" title=\"Annelid\">annelid</a> worms in the family <a href=\"/wiki/Serpulidae\" title=\"Serpulidae\">Serpulidae</a> create shells which are tubes made of calcium carbonate cemented onto other surfaces. The shells of <a href=\"/wiki/Sea_urchin\" title=\"Sea urchin\">sea urchins</a> are called \"<a href=\"/wiki/Test_(zoology)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Test (zoology)\">tests</a>\", and the moulted shells of <a href=\"/wiki/Crab\" title=\"Crab\">crabs</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Lobster\" title=\"Lobster\">lobsters</a> are <a href=\"/wiki/Exuviae\" title=\"Exuviae\">exuviae</a>. While most seashells are external, some <a href=\"/wiki/Cephalopods\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cephalopods\">cephalopods</a> have internal shells.\n</p><p>Seashells have been used by humans for many different purposes throughout history and prehistory. However, seashells are not the only kind of shells; in various habitats, there are shells from freshwater animals such as <a href=\"/wiki/Freshwater_mussel\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Freshwater mussel\">freshwater mussels</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Freshwater_snail\" title=\"Freshwater snail\">freshwater snails</a>, and shells of <a href=\"/wiki/Land_snail\" title=\"Land snail\">land snails</a>.\n</p>\n<div id=\"toc\" class=\"toc\" role=\"navigation\" aria-labelledby=\"mw-toc-heading\"><input type=\"checkbox\" role=\"button\" id=\"toctogglecheckbox\" class=\"toctogglecheckbox\" style=\"display:none\" /><div class=\"toctitle\" lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><h2 id=\"mw-toc-heading\">Contents</h2><span class=\"toctogglespan\"><label class=\"toctogglelabel\" for=\"toctogglecheckbox\"></label></span></div>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-1\"><a href=\"#Terminology\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Terminology</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-2\"><a href=\"#Occurrence\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Occurrence</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-3\"><a href=\"#Shell_synthesis\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">3</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Shell synthesis</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-4\"><a href=\"#Molluscan_seashells\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Molluscan seashells</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-5\"><a href=\"#Bivalves\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Bivalves</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-6\"><a href=\"#Gastropods\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Gastropods</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-7\"><a href=\"#Polyplacophorans\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.3</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Polyplacophorans</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-8\"><a href=\"#Cephalopods\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.4</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Cephalopods</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-9\"><a href=\"#Molluscan_seashells_used_by_other_animals\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.5</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Molluscan seashells used by other animals</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-10\"><a href=\"#Mollusks\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.5.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Mollusks</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-11\"><a href=\"#Invertebrates\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.5.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Invertebrates</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-12\"><a href=\"#Conchology\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.6</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Conchology</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-13\"><a href=\"#Shell_clubs\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.6.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Shell clubs</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-14\"><a href=\"#Identification\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.6.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Identification</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-15\"><a href=\"#Non-marine_&quot;seashells&quot;\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.6.3</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Non-marine \"seashells\"</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-16\"><a href=\"#Cultural_significance\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Cultural significance</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-17\"><a href=\"#Currency\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Currency</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-18\"><a href=\"#Tools\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Tools</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-19\"><a href=\"#Horticulture\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.3</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Horticulture</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-20\"><a href=\"#Religion_and_spirituality\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.4</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Religion and spirituality</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-21\"><a href=\"#Musical_instruments\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.5</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Musical instruments</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-22\"><a href=\"#Personal_adornment\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.6</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Personal adornment</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-23\"><a href=\"#Creating_Crafts\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.7</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Creating Crafts</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-24\"><a href=\"#Architectural_decoration\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.8</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Architectural decoration</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-25\"><a href=\"#Art\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.9</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Art</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-26\"><a href=\"#Poultry_feeds\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.10</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Poultry feeds</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-27\"><a href=\"#Use\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.8</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Use</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-28\"><a href=\"#Shells_of_other_marine_invertebrates\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">5</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Shells of other marine invertebrates</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-29\"><a href=\"#Arthropods\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">5.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Arthropods</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-30\"><a href=\"#Echinoderms\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">5.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Echinoderms</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-31\"><a href=\"#Brachiopods\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">5.3</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Brachiopods</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-32\"><a href=\"#Annelids\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">5.4</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Annelids</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-33\"><a href=\"#Other_more_atypical_kinds\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">6</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Other more atypical kinds</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-34\"><a href=\"#Chelonians\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">6.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Chelonians</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-35\"><a href=\"#Hard_corals\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">6.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Hard corals</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-36\"><a href=\"#Soft_corals\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">6.3</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Soft corals</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-37\"><a href=\"#Plankton_and_protists\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">6.4</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Plankton and protists</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-38\"><a href=\"#See_also\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">7</span> <span class=\"toctext\">See also</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-39\"><a href=\"#References\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">8</span> <span class=\"toctext\">References</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-40\"><a href=\"#Citations\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">8.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Citations</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-41\"><a href=\"#Sources\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">8.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Sources</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-42\"><a href=\"#External_links\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">9</span> <span class=\"toctext\">External links</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Terminology\">Terminology</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=1\" title=\"Edit section: Terminology\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<p>When the word \"seashells\" refers only to the shells of marine mollusks, then studying seashells is part of <a href=\"/wiki/Conchology\" title=\"Conchology\">conchology</a>. Conchologists or serious collectors who have a scientific bias are in general careful not to disturb living populations and habitats: even though they may collect a few live animals, most responsible collectors do not often over-collect or otherwise disturb ecosystems.\n</p><p>The study of the entire molluscan animal (as well as the shell) is known as <a href=\"/wiki/Malacology\" title=\"Malacology\">malacology</a>; a person who studies mollusks is known as a <a href=\"/wiki/Malacologist\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Malacologist\">malacologist</a>.\n</p>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Occurrence\">Occurrence</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=2\" title=\"Edit section: Occurrence\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<p>Seashells are commonly found in beach drift, which is natural detritus deposited along strandlines on <a href=\"/wiki/Beach\" title=\"Beach\">beaches</a> by the <a href=\"/wiki/Wave\" title=\"Wave\">waves</a> and the <a href=\"/wiki/Tide\" title=\"Tide\">tides</a>. Shells are very often washed up onto a beach empty and clean, the animal having already died.\n</p><p>Empty seashells are often picked up by beachcombers. However, the majority of seashells which are offered for sale commercially have been collected alive (often in bulk) and then killed and cleaned, specifically for the commercial trade.<sup id=\"cite_ref-1\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-1\">&#91;1&#93;</a></sup> This type of large-scale exploitation can sometimes have a strong negative impact on local <a href=\"/wiki/Ecosystem\" title=\"Ecosystem\">ecosystems</a>, and sometimes can significantly reduce the distribution of <a href=\"/wiki/Rare_species\" title=\"Rare species\">rare species</a>.\n</p>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Shell_synthesis\">Shell synthesis</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=3\" title=\"Edit section: Shell synthesis\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<p>Seashells are created by the <a href=\"/wiki/Mollusca\" title=\"Mollusca\">molluscs</a> that use them for protection.<sup id=\"cite_ref-whoi_2-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-whoi-2\">&#91;2&#93;</a></sup> Molluscs have an outside layer of tissues on their bodies \u2013 the <a href=\"/wiki/Mantle_(mollusc)\" title=\"Mantle (mollusc)\">mantle</a> \u2013 which creates the shell material and which connects the shell to the mollusc. The specialized cells in the mantle form the shell using different <a href=\"/wiki/Mineral_(nutrient)\" title=\"Mineral (nutrient)\">minerals</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Protein\" title=\"Protein\">proteins</a>.<sup id=\"cite_ref-whoi_2-1\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-whoi-2\">&#91;2&#93;</a></sup> The proteins are then used to create the framework that supports the growing shell. <a href=\"/wiki/Calcium_carbonate\" title=\"Calcium carbonate\">Calcium carbonate</a> is the main compound of shell structure, aiding in <a href=\"/wiki/Adhesion\" title=\"Adhesion\">adhesion</a>.<sup id=\"cite_ref-whoi_2-2\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-whoi-2\">&#91;2&#93;</a></sup>\n</p>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Molluscan_seashells\">Molluscan seashells</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=4\" title=\"Edit section: Molluscan seashells\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1097763485\"/><table class=\"box-More_citations_needed_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove\" role=\"presentation\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"mbox-image\"><div class=\"mbox-image-div\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg\" class=\"image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"512\" data-file-height=\"399\" /></a></div></td><td class=\"mbox-text\"><div class=\"mbox-text-span\">This section <b>needs additional citations for <a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability\" title=\"Wikipedia:Verifiability\">verification</a></b>.<span class=\"hide-when-compact\"> Please help <a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit\">improve this article</a> by <a href=\"/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners\" title=\"Help:Referencing for beginners\">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.</span>  <span class=\"date-container\"><i>(<span class=\"date\">September 2011</span>)</i></span><span class=\"hide-when-compact\"><i> (<small><a href=\"/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal\" title=\"Help:Maintenance template removal\">Learn how and when to remove this template message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg/220px-Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"147\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg/330px-Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg/440px-Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1721\" data-file-height=\"1150\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Seashells hand-picked from beach drift in <a href=\"/wiki/North_Wales\" title=\"North Wales\">North Wales</a> at <a href=\"/wiki/Shell_Island_(Wales)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Shell Island (Wales)\">Shell Island</a> near <a href=\"/wiki/Harlech_Castle\" title=\"Harlech Castle\">Harlech Castle</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Wales\" title=\"Wales\">Wales</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Bivalve\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bivalve\">bivalves</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Gastropod\">gastropods</a>, March/April 1985</div></div></div>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096\"/><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Mollusc_shell\" title=\"Mollusc shell\">Mollusc shell</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg/220px-Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"147\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg/330px-Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg/440px-Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"6000\" data-file-height=\"4000\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Shells on the seashore</div></div></div>\n<p>The word <i>seashell</i> is often used to mean only the shell of a <a href=\"/wiki/Marine_(ocean)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Marine (ocean)\">marine</a> <a href=\"/wiki/Mollusk\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mollusk\">mollusk</a>. Marine mollusk shells that are familiar to beachcombers and thus most likely to be called \"seashells\" are the shells of marine species of <a href=\"/wiki/Bivalves\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bivalves\">bivalves</a> (or <a href=\"/wiki/Clam\" title=\"Clam\">clams</a>), <a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Gastropod\">gastropods</a> (or <a href=\"/wiki/Snail\" title=\"Snail\">snails</a>), <a href=\"/wiki/Scaphopod\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Scaphopod\">scaphopods</a> (or <a href=\"/wiki/Tusk_shell\" title=\"Tusk shell\">tusk shells</a>), <a href=\"/wiki/Polyplacophora\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Polyplacophora\">polyplacophorans</a> (or <a href=\"/wiki/Chiton\" title=\"Chiton\">chitons</a>), and <a href=\"/wiki/Cephalopod\" title=\"Cephalopod\">cephalopods</a> (such as <a href=\"/wiki/Nautilus\" title=\"Nautilus\">nautilus</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Spirula\" title=\"Spirula\">spirula</a>). These shells are very often the most commonly encountered, both in the wild, and for sale as decorative objects.\n</p><p>Marine species of gastropods and bivalves are more numerous than land and freshwater species, and the shells are often larger and more robust. The shells of marine species also often have more <a href=\"/wiki/Sculpture_(mollusc)\" title=\"Sculpture (mollusc)\">sculpture</a> and more color, although this is by no means always the case.\n</p><p>In the <a href=\"/wiki/Tropical\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Tropical\">tropical</a> and sub-tropical areas of the planet, there are far more species of colorful, large, shallow water shelled marine mollusks than there are in the temperate zones and the regions closer to the poles.\n</p><p>Although there are a number of species of shelled mollusks that are quite large, there are vast numbers of extremely small species too, see <a href=\"/wiki/Micromollusk\" title=\"Micromollusk\">micromollusks</a>.\n</p><p>Not all mollusks are marine. There are numerous land and freshwater mollusks, see for example <a href=\"/wiki/Snail\" title=\"Snail\">snail</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Freshwater_bivalves\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Freshwater bivalves\">freshwater bivalves</a>. In addition, not all mollusks have an external shell: some mollusks such as some cephalopods (squid and octopuses) have an internal shell, and many mollusks have no shell, see for example <a href=\"/wiki/Slug\" title=\"Slug\">slug</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Nudibranch\" title=\"Nudibranch\">nudibranch</a>.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Bivalves\">Bivalves</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=5\" title=\"Edit section: Bivalves\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096\"/><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Bivalvia\" title=\"Bivalvia\">Bivalvia</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg/220px-CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg/330px-CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg/440px-CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1024\" data-file-height=\"768\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Single valves of the <a href=\"/wiki/Bivalve\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bivalve\">bivalve</a> <i><a href=\"/wiki/Senilia_senilis\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Senilia senilis\">Senilia senilis</a></i>, plus two <a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Gastropod\">gastropods</a>, washed up on the beach at <a href=\"/wiki/Fadiouth\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Fadiouth\">Fadiouth</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Senegal\" title=\"Senegal\">Senegal</a></div></div></div>\n<p>Bivalves are often the most common seashells that wash up on large sandy beaches or in sheltered <a href=\"/wiki/Lagoon\" title=\"Lagoon\">lagoons</a>. They can sometimes be extremely numerous. Very often the two <a href=\"/wiki/Valve_(mollusc)\" title=\"Valve (mollusc)\">valves</a> become separated.\n</p><p>There are more than 15,000 species of bivalves that live in both marine and freshwater.  Examples of bivalves are clams, scallops, mussels, and oysters. The majority of bivalves consist of two identical shells that are held together by a flexible hinge.  The animal's body is held protectively inside these two shells. Bivalves that do not have two shells either have one shell or they lack a shell altogether. The shells are made of calcium carbonate and are formed in layers by secretions from the mantle. Bivalves, also known as pelecypods, are mostly filter feeders; through their gills, they draw in water, in which is trapped tiny food particles.  Some bivalves have eyes and an open circulatory system.  Bivalves are used all over the world as food and as a source of pearls. The larvae of some freshwater mussels can be dangerous to fish and can bore through wood.\n</p><p><a href=\"/wiki/Shell_Beach,_Western_Australia\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Shell Beach, Western Australia\">Shell Beach, Western Australia</a>, is a beach which is entirely made up of the shells of the <a href=\"/wiki/Cockle_(bivalve)\" title=\"Cockle (bivalve)\">cockle</a> <i><a href=\"/wiki/Fragum_erugatum\" title=\"Fragum erugatum\">Fragum erugatum</a></i>.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Gastropods\">Gastropods</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=6\" title=\"Edit section: Gastropods\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096\"/><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod_shell\" title=\"Gastropod shell\">Gastropod shell</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Sea_shells,_playa_grande,_costa_rica.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Sea_shells%2C_playa_grande%2C_costa_rica.jpg/220px-Sea_shells%2C_playa_grande%2C_costa_rica.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Sea_shells%2C_playa_grande%2C_costa_rica.jpg/330px-Sea_shells%2C_playa_grande%2C_costa_rica.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Sea_shells%2C_playa_grande%2C_costa_rica.jpg/440px-Sea_shells%2C_playa_grande%2C_costa_rica.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"2592\" data-file-height=\"1944\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Sea_shells,_playa_grande,_costa_rica.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Numerous <i><a href=\"/wiki/Turritella\" title=\"Turritella\">Turritella</a></i> gastropod shells washed up on a beach at <a href=\"/wiki/Playa_Grande,_Costa_Rica\" title=\"Playa Grande, Costa Rica\">Playa Grande, Costa Rica</a></div></div></div>\n<p>Certain species of gastropod seashells (the shells of <a href=\"/wiki/Sea_snail\" title=\"Sea snail\">sea snails</a>) can sometimes be common, washed up on sandy beaches, and also on beaches that are surrounded by rocky marine habitat.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Polyplacophorans\">Polyplacophorans</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=7\" title=\"Edit section: Polyplacophorans\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096\"/><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Chiton\" title=\"Chiton\">Chiton</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tleft\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:132px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg/130px-Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"130\" height=\"315\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg/195px-Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg/260px-Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"714\" data-file-height=\"1731\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Loose valves or plates from <i><a href=\"/wiki/Chiton_tuberculatus\" title=\"Chiton tuberculatus\">Chiton tuberculatus</a></i> from the beachdrift on the southeast coast of <a href=\"/wiki/Nevis\" title=\"Nevis\">Nevis</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/West_Indies\" title=\"West Indies\">West Indies</a></div></div></div>\n<p><a href=\"/wiki/Chiton\" title=\"Chiton\">Chiton</a> plates or valves often wash up on beaches in rocky areas where chitons are common. Chiton shells, which are composed of eight separate plates and a girdle, usually come apart not long after death, so they are almost always found as disarticulated plates. Plates from larger species of chitons are sometimes known as \"butterfly shells\" because of their shape.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Cephalopods\">Cephalopods</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=8\" title=\"Edit section: Cephalopods\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096\"/><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Cephalopod\" title=\"Cephalopod\">Cephalopod</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:132px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Cuttlebone.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Cuttlebone.jpg/130px-Cuttlebone.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"130\" height=\"72\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Cuttlebone.jpg/195px-Cuttlebone.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Cuttlebone.jpg/260px-Cuttlebone.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"685\" data-file-height=\"378\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Cuttlebone.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Cuttlebone from a <i><a href=\"/wiki/Sepia_(genus)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sepia (genus)\">Sepia</a></i> sp.</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:132px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Nautilus_species_shells.png\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Nautilus_species_shells.png/130px-Nautilus_species_shells.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"130\" height=\"70\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Nautilus_species_shells.png/195px-Nautilus_species_shells.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Nautilus_species_shells.png/260px-Nautilus_species_shells.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"921\" data-file-height=\"498\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Nautilus_species_shells.png\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Shells of 3 species of <i><a href=\"/wiki/Nautilus\" title=\"Nautilus\">Nautilus</a></i></div></div></div>\n<p>Only a few species of <a href=\"/wiki/Cephalopod\" title=\"Cephalopod\">cephalopods</a> have shells (either internal or external) that are sometimes found washed up on beaches.\n</p><p>Some cephalopods such as <i><a href=\"/wiki/Sepia_(genus)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sepia (genus)\">Sepia</a></i>, the cuttlefish, have a large internal shell, the <a href=\"/wiki/Cuttlefish_bone\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cuttlefish bone\">cuttlefish bone</a>, and this often washes up on beaches in parts of the world where cuttlefish are common.\n</p><p><i><a href=\"/wiki/Spirula_spirula\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Spirula spirula\">Spirula spirula</a></i> is a deep water squid-like cephalopod. It has an internal shell which is small (about 1 in or 24&#160;mm) but very light and buoyant. This chambered shell floats very well and therefore washes up easily and is familiar to beachcombers in the tropics.\n</p><p><i><a href=\"/wiki/Nautilus\" title=\"Nautilus\">Nautilus</a></i> is the only genus of cephalopod that has a well-developed external shell. Females of the cephalopod genus <i><a href=\"/wiki/Argonaut_(animal)\" title=\"Argonaut (animal)\">Argonauta</a></i> create a papery egg case which sometimes washes up on tropical beaches and is referred to as a \"paper nautilus\".\n</p><p>The largest group of shelled cephalopods, the <a href=\"/wiki/Ammonite\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Ammonite\">ammonites</a>, are extinct, but their shells are very common in certain areas as <a href=\"/wiki/Fossil\" title=\"Fossil\">fossils</a>.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Molluscan_seashells_used_by_other_animals\">Molluscan seashells used by other animals</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=9\" title=\"Edit section: Molluscan seashells used by other animals\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<p>Empty molluscan seashells are a sturdy, and usually readily available, \"free\" resource which is often easily found on beaches, in the <a href=\"/wiki/Intertidal_zone\" title=\"Intertidal zone\">intertidal zone</a>, and in the shallow subtidal zone.  As such they are sometimes used <a href=\"/wiki/Second-hand\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Second-hand\">second-hand</a> by animals other than humans for various purposes, including for protection (as in <a href=\"/wiki/Hermit_crab\" title=\"Hermit crab\">hermit crabs</a>) and for construction.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Mollusks\">Mollusks</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=10\" title=\"Edit section: Mollusks\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<ul><li>Carrier shells in the family <a href=\"/wiki/Xenophoridae\" title=\"Xenophoridae\">Xenophoridae</a> are marine shelled gastropods, fairly large sea snails. Most species of xenophorids cement a series of objects to the rim of their shells as they grow. These objects are sometimes small pebbles or other hard detritus. Very often shells of bivalves or smaller gastropods are used, depending on what is available on the particular <a href=\"/wiki/Substrate_(biology)\" title=\"Substrate (biology)\">substrate</a> where the snail itself lives. It is not clear whether these shell attachments serve as <a href=\"/wiki/Camouflage\" title=\"Camouflage\">camouflage</a>, or whether they are intended to help prevent the shell sinking into a soft substrate.</li></ul>\n<div class=\"thumb tleft\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Ocellated_octopus.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Ocellated_octopus.jpg/220px-Ocellated_octopus.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Ocellated_octopus.jpg/330px-Ocellated_octopus.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Ocellated_octopus.jpg/440px-Ocellated_octopus.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1000\" data-file-height=\"750\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Ocellated_octopus.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>An ocellated (spotted) octopus using a clamshell as a shelter</div></div></div>\n<ul><li>Small <a href=\"/wiki/Octopus\" title=\"Octopus\">octopuses</a> sometimes use an empty shell as a sort of cave to hide in, or hold seashells around themselves as a form of protection like a temporary fortress.</li></ul>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Invertebrates\">Invertebrates</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=11\" title=\"Edit section: Invertebrates\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Diogenes_pugilator.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Diogenes_pugilator.jpg/220px-Diogenes_pugilator.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Diogenes_pugilator.jpg/330px-Diogenes_pugilator.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Diogenes_pugilator.jpg/440px-Diogenes_pugilator.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"899\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Diogenes_pugilator.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Marine <a href=\"/wiki/Hermit_crab\" title=\"Hermit crab\">hermit crab</a> <i><a href=\"/wiki/Diogenes_pugilator\" title=\"Diogenes pugilator\">Diogenes pugilator</a></i>, using a shell of the dog whelk <i><a href=\"/wiki/Nassarius_reticulatus\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Nassarius reticulatus\">Nassarius reticulatus</a></i></div></div></div>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1045330069\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><table class=\"sidebar sidebar-collapse nomobile nowraplinks\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"sidebar-pretitle\">Part of a series related to</td></tr><tr><th class=\"sidebar-title-with-pretitle\" style=\"background:#82C3D8; padding:0.2em; font-size:160%; font-weight:bold;\"><a href=\"/wiki/Biomineralization\" title=\"Biomineralization\">Biomineralization</a></th></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Coccolithus_pelagicus.jpg/125px-Coccolithus_pelagicus.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"125\" height=\"125\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Coccolithus_pelagicus.jpg/188px-Coccolithus_pelagicus.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Coccolithus_pelagicus.jpg/250px-Coccolithus_pelagicus.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"400\" data-file-height=\"400\" /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\">General</div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Mineralized_tissues\" title=\"Mineralized tissues\">Mineralized tissues</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Remineralisation\" title=\"Remineralisation\">Remineralisation</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Biocrystallization\" title=\"Biocrystallization\">Biocrystallization</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Biointerface\" title=\"Biointerface\">Biointerface</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Biofilm\" title=\"Biofilm\">Biofilm</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\"><a href=\"/wiki/Exoskeleton\" title=\"Exoskeleton\">Exoskeletons</a> (shells)</div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li>Arthropod\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Arthropod_exoskeleton\" title=\"Arthropod exoskeleton\">exoskeleton</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Arthropod_cuticle\" title=\"Arthropod cuticle\">cuticle</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Brachiopod#Shells_and_their_mechanisms\" title=\"Brachiopod\">Brachiopod shell</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Cephalopod#Shell\" title=\"Cephalopod\">Cephalopod shell</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Cirrate_shell\" title=\"Cirrate shell\">cirrate shell</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Cuttlebone\" title=\"Cuttlebone\">cuttlebone</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Gladius_(cephalopod)\" title=\"Gladius (cephalopod)\">gladius</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Lorica_(biology)\" title=\"Lorica (biology)\">Lorica</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Choanoflagellate#Silicon_biomineralization\" title=\"Choanoflagellate\">Choanoflagellate lorica</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Protist_shell\" title=\"Protist shell\">Protist shell</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Coccosphere\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Coccosphere\">coccosphere</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Coccolith\" title=\"Coccolith\">coccolith</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Frustule\" title=\"Frustule\">diatom frustule</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Foraminifera_test\" title=\"Foraminifera test\">foraminifera test</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Testate_amoebae\" title=\"Testate amoebae\">testate amoebae</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a class=\"mw-selflink selflink\">Seashell</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Stereom\" title=\"Stereom\">echinoderm stereom</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Mollusc_shell\" title=\"Mollusc shell\">mollusc shell</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Nacre\" title=\"Nacre\">nacre</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Chiton#Shell\" title=\"Chiton\">chiton shell</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod_shell\" title=\"Gastropod shell\">gastropod shell</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Small_shelly_fauna\" title=\"Small shelly fauna\">small shelly fauna</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Scaly-foot_gastropod#Shell\" title=\"Scaly-foot gastropod\">scaly-foot snail shell</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Shell_growth_in_estuaries\" title=\"Shell growth in estuaries\">estuary shells</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Sponge_spicule\" title=\"Sponge spicule\">Sponge spicule</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Test_(biology)\" title=\"Test (biology)\">Test</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\"><a href=\"/wiki/Endoskeleton\" title=\"Endoskeleton\">Endoskeletons</a> (<a href=\"/wiki/Bone\" title=\"Bone\">bones</a>)</div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Skeleton#Vertebrates\" title=\"Skeleton\">Vertebrate skeleton</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Bone_mineral\" title=\"Bone mineral\">Bone mineral</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Ossification\" title=\"Ossification\">Ossification</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\">Teeth, scales, tusks etc</div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Limpet#Biomineralization\" title=\"Limpet\">Limpet teeth</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Otolith\" title=\"Otolith\">Otolith</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Otolithic_membrane\" title=\"Otolithic membrane\">otolithic membrane</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Scale_microfossils\" title=\"Scale microfossils\">Scale microfossils</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Tusk\" title=\"Tusk\">Tusk</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\"><a href=\"/wiki/Calcification\" title=\"Calcification\">Calcification</a></div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Amorphous_calcium_carbonate\" title=\"Amorphous calcium carbonate\">amorphous calcium carbonate</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Marine_biogenic_calcification\" title=\"Marine biogenic calcification\">marine biogenic calcification</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Calcareous_nannofossils\" title=\"Calcareous nannofossils\">calcareous nannofossils</a></li></ul>\n</div>\n<div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Aragonite\" title=\"Aragonite\">Aragonite</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Oolitic_aragonite_sand\" title=\"Oolitic aragonite sand\">oolitic aragonite sand</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Aragonite_sea\" title=\"Aragonite sea\">aragonite sea</a></li></ul></li></ul>\n</div>\n<div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Calcite\" title=\"Calcite\">Calcite</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Microbiologically_induced_calcite_precipitation\" title=\"Microbiologically induced calcite precipitation\">microbial calcite precipitation</a><br /></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Calcite_sea\" title=\"Calcite sea\">calcite sea</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Great_Calcite_Belt\" title=\"Great Calcite Belt\">Great Calcite Belt</a></li></ul></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\"><a href=\"/wiki/Silicification\" title=\"Silicification\">Silicification</a></div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Biogenic_silica\" title=\"Biogenic silica\">biogenic silica</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Siliceous_ooze\" title=\"Siliceous ooze\">siliceous ooze</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth\" title=\"Diatomaceous earth\">diatomaceous earth</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\">Other forms</div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Bone_bed\" title=\"Bone bed\">Bone bed</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Kerogen\" title=\"Kerogen\">Kerogen</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Alginite\" title=\"Alginite\">alginite</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Oil_shale\" title=\"Oil shale\">oil shale</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Phosphate\" title=\"Phosphate\">Phosphate</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Phosphorite\" title=\"Phosphorite\">phosphorite</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Pyrena\" title=\"Pyrena\">Pyrena</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\">Related</div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Mineral_evolution\" title=\"Mineral evolution\">Mineral evolution</a></li>\n<li>In soil\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Mineralization_(soil_science)\" title=\"Mineralization (soil science)\">mineralization</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Immobilization_(soil_science)\" title=\"Immobilization (soil science)\">immobilization</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Ballast_minerals\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Ballast minerals\">Ballast minerals</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Magnetofossil\" title=\"Magnetofossil\">Magnetofossil</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Magnetosome\" title=\"Magnetosome\">Magnetosome</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Magnetotactic_bacteria\" title=\"Magnetotactic bacteria\">Magnetotactic bacteria</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Magnetoreception\" title=\"Magnetoreception\">Magnetoreception</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Microfossil\" title=\"Microfossil\">Microfossils</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Engrailed_(gene)\" title=\"Engrailed (gene)\"><i>engrailed</i> gene</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Druse_(botany)\" title=\"Druse (botany)\">Druse</a></li>\n<li><i><a href=\"/wiki/Cupriavidus_metallidurans\" title=\"Cupriavidus metallidurans\">Cupriavidus metallidurans</a></i></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Biomineralising_polychaete\" title=\"Biomineralising polychaete\">Biomineralising polychaetes</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Mineral_(nutrient)\" title=\"Mineral (nutrient)\">Mineral nutrients</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Microbial_mat\" title=\"Microbial mat\">Microbial mat</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Fossil#Fossilization_processes\" title=\"Fossil\">Fossilization</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Permineralization\" title=\"Permineralization\">permineralization</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Petrifaction\" title=\"Petrifaction\">petrifaction</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Burgess_Shale-type_preservation#Preservational_regime\" title=\"Burgess Shale-type preservation\">Burgess Shale preservation</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-below hlist\" style=\"background-color: #82C3D8; border-color: #A2B8BF\">\n<ul><li><span class=\"nowrap\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Category\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" class=\"noviewer\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"180\" data-file-height=\"185\" />&#160;<a href=\"/wiki/Category:Biomineralization\" title=\"Category:Biomineralization\">Category</a></span></li></ul></td></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-navbar\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374\"/><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1063604349\"/><div class=\"navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini\"><ul><li class=\"nv-view\"><a href=\"/wiki/Template:Biomineralization_sidebar\" title=\"Template:Biomineralization sidebar\"><abbr title=\"View this template\">v</abbr></a></li><li class=\"nv-talk\"><a href=\"/wiki/Template_talk:Biomineralization_sidebar\" title=\"Template talk:Biomineralization sidebar\"><abbr title=\"Discuss this template\">t</abbr></a></li><li class=\"nv-edit\"><a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Biomineralization_sidebar&amp;action=edit\"><abbr title=\"Edit this template\">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table>\n<ul><li>Almost all genera of <a href=\"/wiki/Hermit_crab\" title=\"Hermit crab\">hermit crabs</a> use or \"wear\" empty marine gastropod shells throughout their lifespan, in order to protect their soft abdomens, and in order to have a strong shell to withdraw into if attacked by a predator. Each individual hermit crab is forced to find another gastropod shell on a regular basis, whenever it grows too large for the one it is currently using.</li></ul>\n<dl><dd>Some hermit crab species live on land and may be found quite some distance from the sea, including those in the tropical genus <i><a href=\"/wiki/Coenobita\" title=\"Coenobita\">Coenobita</a></i>.</dd></dl>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Conchology\">Conchology</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=12\" title=\"Edit section: Conchology\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096\"/><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Conchology\" title=\"Conchology\">Conchology</a></div>\n<p>There are numerous popular books and <a href=\"/wiki/Field_guide\" title=\"Field guide\">field guides</a> on the subject of shell-collecting. Although there are a number of books about land and freshwater mollusks, the majority of popular books emphasize, or focus exclusively on, the shells of marine mollusks. Both the science of studying mollusk shells and the hobby of collecting and classifying them are known as <a href=\"/wiki/Conchology\" title=\"Conchology\">conchology</a>. The line between professionals and amateur enthusiasts is often not well defined in this subject, because many amateurs have contributed to, and continue to contribute to, conchology and the larger science of <a href=\"/wiki/Malacology\" title=\"Malacology\">malacology</a>. Many shell collectors belong to \"shell clubs\" where they can meet others who share their interests. A large number of amateurs collect the shells of marine mollusks, and this is partly because many shells wash up empty on beaches, or live in the <a href=\"/wiki/Intertidal\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Intertidal\">intertidal</a> or sub-tidal zones, and are therefore easily found and preserved without much in the way of specialized equipment or expensive supplies. Some shell collectors find their own material and keep careful records, or buy only \"specimen shells\", which means shells which have full collecting <a href=\"/wiki/Data\" title=\"Data\">data</a>: information including how, when, where, in what habitat, and by whom, the shells were collected. On the other hand, some collectors buy the more widely available commercially imported exotic shells, the majority of which have very little data, or none at all. To <a href=\"/wiki/Museum\" title=\"Museum\">museum</a> scientists, having full collecting data (when, where, and by whom it was collected) with a specimen is far more important than having the shell correctly identified. Some owners of shell collections hope to be able to donate their collection to a major natural history or zoology museum at some point, however, shells with little or no collecting data are usually of no value to science, and are likely not to be accepted by a major museum. Apart from any damage to the shell that may have happened <i>before</i> it was collected, shells can also suffer damage when they are stored or displayed. For an example of one rather serious kind of damage see <a href=\"/wiki/Byne%27s_disease\" title=\"Byne&#39;s disease\">Byne's disease</a>.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Shell_clubs\">Shell clubs</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=13\" title=\"Edit section: Shell clubs\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<p>There are a number of clubs or societies which consist of people who are united by a shared interest in shells. In the US, these clubs are more common in southerly coastal areas, such as <a href=\"/wiki/Florida\" title=\"Florida\">Florida</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/California\" title=\"California\">California</a>, where the marine fauna is rich in species.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Identification\">Identification</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=14\" title=\"Edit section: Identification\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<p>Seashells are usually identified by consulting general or regional shell-collecting <a href=\"/wiki/Field_guide\" title=\"Field guide\">field guides</a>, and specific scientific books on different taxa of shell-bearing mollusks (<a href=\"/wiki/Monograph\" title=\"Monograph\">monographs</a>) or \"iconographies\" (limited text \u2013 mainly photographs or other illustrations). (For a few titles on this subject in the US, see the list of books at the foot of this article.) Identifications to the species level are generally achieved by examining illustrations and written descriptions, rather than by the use of <a href=\"/wiki/Identification_key\" title=\"Identification key\">Identification keys</a>, as is often the case in identifying plants and other phyla of invertebrates. The construction of functional keys for the identification of the shells of marine mollusks to the species level can be very difficult, because of the great variability within many species and families. The identification of certain individual species is often very difficult, even for a specialist in that particular family. Some species cannot be differentiated on the basis of shell character alone.\n</p><p>Numerous smaller and more obscure mollusk species (see <a href=\"/wiki/Micromollusk\" title=\"Micromollusk\">micromollusk</a>) are yet to be discovered and named. In other words, they have not yet been differentiated from similar species and assigned scientific (binomial) names in articles in journals recognized by the <a href=\"/wiki/International_Commission_on_Zoological_Nomenclature\" title=\"International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature\">International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature</a> (ICZN). Large numbers of new species are published in the scientific literature each year. There are currently an estimated 100,000 species of mollusks worldwide.\n</p>\n<h4><span id=\"Non-marine_.22seashells.22\"></span><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Non-marine_&quot;seashells&quot;\">Non-marine \"seashells\"</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=15\" title=\"Edit section: Non-marine &quot;seashells&quot;\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shells01.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Shells01.jpg/220px-Shells01.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Shells01.jpg/330px-Shells01.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Shells01.jpg/440px-Shells01.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"2048\" data-file-height=\"1536\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shells01.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>A group of purchased (mostly marine) shells includes the shell of a large tropical land snail (upper right), and a shiny freshwater apple snail shell (center)</div></div></div>\n<p>The term <i>seashell</i> is also applied loosely to mollusk shells that are not of marine origin, for example by people walking the shores of lakes and rivers using the term for the <a href=\"/wiki/Freshwater_mollusc\" title=\"Freshwater mollusc\">freshwater mollusk</a> shells they encounter.  Seashells purchased from tourist shops or dealers may include various freshwater and terrestrial shells as well.  Non-marine items offered may include large and colorful tropical <a href=\"/wiki/Snail\" title=\"Snail\">land snail</a> shells, freshwater <a href=\"/wiki/Apple_snail\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Apple snail\">apple snail</a> shells, and pearly freshwater <a href=\"/wiki/Unionid_mussel\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Unionid mussel\">unionid mussel</a> shells.  This can be confusing to collectors, as non-marine shells are often not included in their reference books.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Cultural_significance\">Cultural significance</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=16\" title=\"Edit section: Cultural significance\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096\"/><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Further information: <a href=\"/wiki/Molluscs_in_culture\" title=\"Molluscs in culture\">Molluscs in culture</a></div>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1097763485\"/><table class=\"box-More_citations_needed_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove\" role=\"presentation\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"mbox-image\"><div class=\"mbox-image-div\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg\" class=\"image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"512\" data-file-height=\"399\" /></a></div></td><td class=\"mbox-text\"><div class=\"mbox-text-span\">This section <b>needs additional citations for <a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability\" title=\"Wikipedia:Verifiability\">verification</a></b>.<span class=\"hide-when-compact\"> Please help <a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit\">improve this article</a> by <a href=\"/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners\" title=\"Help:Referencing for beginners\">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.</span>  <span class=\"date-container\"><i>(<span class=\"date\">July 2016</span>)</i></span><span class=\"hide-when-compact\"><i> (<small><a href=\"/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal\" title=\"Help:Maintenance template removal\">Learn how and when to remove this template message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Currency\">Currency</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=17\" title=\"Edit section: Currency\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096\"/><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Shell_money\" title=\"Shell money\">shell money</a></div>\n<p>Seashells have been used as a medium of exchange in various places, including many Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean islands, also in North America, Africa and the Caribbean.\n</p>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg/220px-Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"63\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg/330px-Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg/440px-Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"3000\" data-file-height=\"856\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>1742 drawing of shells of the money cowry, <i><a href=\"/wiki/Monetaria_moneta\" title=\"Monetaria moneta\">Monetaria moneta</a></i></div></div></div>\n<ul><li>The most common species of shells to be used as currency have been <i><a href=\"/wiki/Monetaria_moneta\" title=\"Monetaria moneta\">Monetaria moneta</a></i>, the \"money <a href=\"/wiki/Cowry\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cowry\">cowry</a>\",<sup id=\"cite_ref-Poutiers_3-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-Poutiers-3\">&#91;3&#93;</a></sup><sup id=\"cite_ref-4\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-4\">&#91;4&#93;</a></sup> and certain <a href=\"/wiki/Dentalium_(anthropology)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Dentalium (anthropology)\">dentalium</a> <a href=\"/wiki/Tusk_shell\" title=\"Tusk shell\">tusk shells</a>, used in North Western North America for many centuries.</li>\n<li>Many of the tribes and nations all across the continent of Africa have historically used the <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20160323070635/http://www.blackhistorypages.net/pages/cowrie.php\">cowry</a> as their media of exchange. The cowry circulated, historically, alongside metal coins and goods, and foreign currencies. Being durable and easy to carry the cowry made a very favorable currency.</li>\n<li>Some tribes of the <a href=\"/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas\" title=\"Indigenous peoples of the Americas\">indigenous peoples of the Americas</a> used shells for <a href=\"/wiki/Wampum\" title=\"Wampum\">wampum</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Hair_pipe\" title=\"Hair pipe\">hair pipes</a>.<sup id=\"cite_ref-5\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-5\">&#91;5&#93;</a></sup> The Native American <i><a href=\"/wiki/Wampum\" title=\"Wampum\">wampum</a> belts</i> were made of the shell of the <a href=\"/wiki/Quahog\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Quahog\">quahog</a> clam.</li></ul>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Tools\">Tools</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=18\" title=\"Edit section: Tools\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<p>Seashells have often been used as <a href=\"/wiki/Tool\" title=\"Tool\">tools</a>, because of their strength and the variety of their shapes.\n</p>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Giant_clam\" title=\"Giant clam\">Giant clams</a> (Family Tridacnidae) have been used as bowls, and when big enough, even as bathtubs and <a href=\"/wiki/Baptism\" title=\"Baptism\">baptismal</a> fonts.</li>\n<li><i><a href=\"/wiki/Melo_melo\" title=\"Melo melo\">Melo melo</a></i>, the \"bailer <a href=\"/wiki/Volutidae\" title=\"Volutidae\">volute</a>\", is so named because Native Australians used it to <a href=\"/wiki/Bailing_(boats)\" title=\"Bailing (boats)\">bail out</a> their canoes.</li>\n<li>Many different species of bivalves have been used as scrapers, blades, clasps, and other such tools, due to their shape.</li>\n<li>Some marine gastropods have been used for <a href=\"/wiki/Oil_lamp\" title=\"Oil lamp\">oil lamps</a>, the oil being poured in the aperture of the shell, and the <a href=\"/wiki/Siphonal_canal\" title=\"Siphonal canal\">siphonal canal</a> serving as a holder for the wick.</li></ul>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Horticulture\">Horticulture</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=19\" title=\"Edit section: Horticulture\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<p>Because seashells are in some areas a readily available bulk source of calcium carbonate, shells such as <a href=\"/wiki/Oyster\" title=\"Oyster\">oyster</a> shells are sometimes used as soil conditioners in <a href=\"/wiki/Horticulture\" title=\"Horticulture\">horticulture</a>. The shells are broken or ground into small pieces in order to have the desired effect of raising the <a href=\"/wiki/PH\" title=\"PH\">pH</a> and increasing the <a href=\"/wiki/Calcium\" title=\"Calcium\">calcium</a> content in the soil.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Religion_and_spirituality\">Religion and spirituality</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=20\" title=\"Edit section: Religion and spirituality\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg/220px-Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"125\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg/330px-Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg/440px-Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"501\" data-file-height=\"284\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>A sacred chank shell on the flag of <a href=\"/wiki/Travancore\" title=\"Travancore\">Travancore</a>, India</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539,_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology,_London.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539%2C_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology%2C_London.jpg/220px-Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539%2C_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology%2C_London.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"186\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539%2C_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology%2C_London.jpg/330px-Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539%2C_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology%2C_London.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539%2C_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology%2C_London.jpg/440px-Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539%2C_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology%2C_London.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"4566\" data-file-height=\"3858\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539,_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology,_London.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Spatha shell. From Naqada tomb 1539, Egypt. Naqada I period. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London</div></div></div>\n<p>Seashells have played a part in religion and spirituality, sometimes even as ritual objects.\n</p>\n<ul><li>In Christianity, the <a href=\"/wiki/Scallop\" title=\"Scallop\">scallop</a> shell is considered to be the symbol of <a href=\"/wiki/Saint_James_the_Great\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Saint James the Great\">Saint James the Great</a>, see <i><a href=\"/wiki/Pecten_jacobaeus\" title=\"Pecten jacobaeus\">Pecten jacobaeus</a></i>.<sup id=\"cite_ref-6\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-6\">&#91;6&#93;</a></sup></li>\n<li>In <a href=\"/wiki/Hinduism\" title=\"Hinduism\">Hinduism</a>, left-handed shells of <i><a href=\"/wiki/Turbinella_pyrum\" title=\"Turbinella pyrum\">Turbinella pyrum</a></i> (the sacred <a href=\"/wiki/Shankha\" title=\"Shankha\">shankha</a>) are considered to be sacred to the god <a href=\"/wiki/Vishnu\" title=\"Vishnu\">Vishnu</a>. The person who finds a left-handed chank shell (one that coils to the left) is sacred to Vishnu, as well. The chank shell also plays an important role in <a href=\"/wiki/Buddhism\" title=\"Buddhism\">Buddhism</a>.</li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Cowries\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cowries\">Cowries</a> have often been considered to be symbols of female fertility. They were often treated as actual fertility <a href=\"/wiki/Amulet\" title=\"Amulet\">charms</a>. The dorsum of the shell resembles a pregnant belly, and the underside of the shell resembles a <a href=\"/wiki/Vulva\" title=\"Vulva\">vulva</a>. In the South Indian state of Kerala, cowries are used for making astrological predictions.</li>\n<li>In the <a href=\"/wiki/Santer%C3%ADa\" title=\"Santer\u00eda\">Santer\u00eda</a> religion, shells are used for <a href=\"/wiki/Divination\" title=\"Divination\">divination</a>.</li>\n<li>The <a href=\"/wiki/Moche_(culture)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Moche (culture)\">Moche</a> culture of ancient <a href=\"/wiki/Peru\" title=\"Peru\">Peru</a> worshipped animals and the sea, and often depicted shells in their art.<sup id=\"cite_ref-7\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-7\">&#91;7&#93;</a></sup></li>\n<li>In Christianity, the top of the <a href=\"/wiki/Sand_dollar\" title=\"Sand dollar\">sand dollar</a> represents the Star of Bethlehem that led the Wise Men to the manger of Christ. Outside the \"star\" you will see the Easter Lily, a sign of Jesus' Resurrection. There are four holes that represent the holes in the Lord's hands and feet. The center hole is the Wound to His Sacred Heart by the spear of Longinus. On the other side of the sand dollar, you will see Poinsettia. Lastly, if you break open the sand dollar, five doves will come out, the doves of Peace and Joy.<sup id=\"cite_ref-8\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-8\">&#91;8&#93;</a></sup></li></ul>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Musical_instruments\">Musical instruments</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=21\" title=\"Edit section: Musical instruments\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096\"/><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Conch_(musical_instrument)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Conch (musical instrument)\">Conch (musical instrument)</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg/220px-Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"146\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg/330px-Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg/440px-Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"697\" data-file-height=\"463\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Hindu priest sounding a ritual trumpet made from <i><a href=\"/wiki/Turbinella_pyrum\" title=\"Turbinella pyrum\">Turbinella pyrum</a></i></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg/220px-Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg/330px-Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg/440px-Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"800\" data-file-height=\"600\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Korean military procession with <i><a href=\"/wiki/Charonia\" title=\"Charonia\">Charonia</a></i> trumpets</div></div></div>\n<p>Seashells have been used as musical instruments, <a href=\"/wiki/Wind_instruments\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Wind instruments\">wind instruments</a> for many hundreds if not thousands of years. Most often the shells of large sea snails are used, as trumpets, by cutting a hole in the <a href=\"/wiki/Spire_(mollusc)\" title=\"Spire (mollusc)\">spire</a> of the shell or cutting off the tip of the spire altogether. Various different kinds of large marine gastropod shells can be turned into \"blowing shells\", however the most commonly encountered species used as \"<a href=\"/wiki/Conch\" title=\"Conch\">conch</a>\" trumpets are:\n</p>\n<ul><li>The sacred chank, <i><a href=\"/wiki/Turbinella_pyrum\" title=\"Turbinella pyrum\">Turbinella pyrum</a></i>, known in India as the <a href=\"/wiki/Shankha\" title=\"Shankha\">shankha</a>. In <a href=\"/wiki/Tibet\" title=\"Tibet\">Tibet</a> it is known as \"dung-dkar\".<sup id=\"cite_ref-Clark_9-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-Clark-9\">&#91;9&#93;</a></sup></li>\n<li>The <a href=\"/wiki/Triton_(mollusk)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Triton (mollusk)\">Triton shell</a> also known as \"Triton's trumpet\" <i><a href=\"/wiki/Charonia_tritonis\" title=\"Charonia tritonis\">Charonia tritonis</a></i> which is used as a trumpet in Melanesian and Polynesian culture and also in <a href=\"/wiki/Korea\" title=\"Korea\">Korea</a> and Japan. In Japan this kind of trumpet is known as the <a href=\"/wiki/Horagai\" title=\"Horagai\">horagai</a>. In Korea it is known as the <a href=\"/wiki/Nagak\" title=\"Nagak\">nagak</a>. In some Polynesian islands it is known as \"<i>pu</i>\".<sup id=\"cite_ref-Clark_9-1\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-Clark-9\">&#91;9&#93;</a></sup></li>\n<li>The <a href=\"/wiki/Queen_Conch\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Queen Conch\">Queen Conch</a> <i><a href=\"/wiki/Lobatus_gigas\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Lobatus gigas\">Lobatus gigas</a></i>, has been used as a trumpet in the Caribbean.</li></ul>\n<p>Children in some cultures are often told the myth that you can hear the sound of the ocean by holding a seashell to ones ear. This is due to the effect of <a href=\"/wiki/Seashell_resonance\" title=\"Seashell resonance\">seashell resonance</a>.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Personal_adornment\">Personal adornment</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=22\" title=\"Edit section: Personal adornment\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg/220px-Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"293\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg/330px-Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg/440px-Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"1600\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Use of <a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod_shell\" title=\"Gastropod shell\">gastropod shells</a>, specifically <a href=\"/wiki/Cowries\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cowries\">cowries</a>, in traditional dress of the <a href=\"/wiki/Kikuyu_people\" title=\"Kikuyu people\">Kikuyu people</a> of <a href=\"/wiki/Kenya\" title=\"Kenya\">Kenya</a>, Africa</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Pearlykingandqueen.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Pearlykingandqueen.jpg/220px-Pearlykingandqueen.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"327\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Pearlykingandqueen.jpg/330px-Pearlykingandqueen.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Pearlykingandqueen.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"336\" data-file-height=\"500\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Pearlykingandqueen.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>A <a href=\"/wiki/Pearly_Kings_and_Queens\" title=\"Pearly Kings and Queens\">Pearly King and Queen</a> in London</div></div></div>\n<p>Whole seashells or parts of sea shells have been used as jewelry or in other forms of adornment since prehistoric times. <a href=\"/wiki/Mother_of_pearl\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mother of pearl\">Mother of pearl</a> was historically primarily a seashell product, although more recently some mother of pearl comes from freshwater mussels. Also see <a href=\"/wiki/Pearl\" title=\"Pearl\">pearl</a>.\n</p>\n<ul><li>Shell necklaces have been found in Stone Age graves as far inland as the <a href=\"/wiki/Dordogne\" title=\"Dordogne\">Dordogne</a> Valley in France.</li>\n<li>Seashells are often used whole and drilled, so that they can be threaded like <a href=\"/wiki/Bead\" title=\"Bead\">beads</a>, or cut into pieces of various shapes. Sometimes shells can be found that are already \"drilled\" by predatory snails of the family <a href=\"/wiki/Naticidae\" title=\"Naticidae\">Naticidae</a>. Fine whole shell necklaces were made by <a href=\"/wiki/Tasmanian_Aboriginal\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Tasmanian Aboriginal\">Tasmanian Aboriginal</a> women for more than 2,600 years. The necklaces represent a significant cultural tradition which is still practised by <a href=\"/wiki/Tasmanian_Aboriginal\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Tasmanian Aboriginal\">Palawa</a> women elders. The shells used include pearly green and blue-green maireener (rainbow kelp) shells, brown and white rice shells, black cats' teeth shells and pink button shells.<sup id=\"cite_ref-10\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-10\">&#91;10&#93;</a></sup></li>\n<li>Naturally-occurring, beachworn, <a href=\"/wiki/Cone_shell\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cone shell\">cone shell</a> \"tops\" (the broken-off spire of the shell, which often has a hole worn at the tip) can function as beads without any further modification. In <a href=\"/wiki/Hawaii\" title=\"Hawaii\">Hawaii</a> these natural beads were traditionally collected from the beach drift in order to make <a href=\"/wiki/Puka_shell\" title=\"Puka shell\">puka shell</a> jewelry. Since it is hard to obtain large quantities of naturally-occurring beachworn cone tops, almost all modern puka <a href=\"/wiki/Shell_jewelry\" title=\"Shell jewelry\">shell jewelry</a> uses cheaper imitations, cut from thin shells of other species of mollusk, or even made of plastic.</li>\n<li>Shells historically have been and still are made into, or incorporated into, necklaces, pendants, beads, earrings, <a href=\"/wiki/Button_(clothing)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Button (clothing)\">buttons</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Brooch\" title=\"Brooch\">brooches</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Ring_(finger)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Ring (finger)\">rings</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Comb\" title=\"Comb\">hair combs</a>, belt buckles and other uses.</li>\n<li>The shell of the large  \"bullmouth helmet\" sea snail, scientific name <i><a href=\"/wiki/Cypraecassis_rufa\" title=\"Cypraecassis rufa\">Cypraecassis rufa</a></i>, was historically, and still is, used to make valuable <a href=\"/wiki/Cameo_(carving)\" title=\"Cameo (carving)\">cameos</a>.</li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Nacre\" title=\"Nacre\">Mother of pearl</a> from many seashells including species in the family <a href=\"/wiki/Trochidae\" title=\"Trochidae\">Trochidae</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Turbinidae\" title=\"Turbinidae\">Turbinidae</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Haliotidae\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Haliotidae\">Haliotidae</a>, and various pearly bivalves, has often been used in jewelry, buttons, etc.</li>\n<li>In London, <a href=\"/wiki/Pearly_Kings_and_Queens\" title=\"Pearly Kings and Queens\">Pearly Kings and Queens</a> traditionally wear clothing covered in patterns made up of hundreds of \"pearl <a href=\"/wiki/Button_(clothing)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Button (clothing)\">buttons</a>\", in other words, buttons made of <a href=\"/wiki/Mother-of-pearl\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mother-of-pearl\">mother-of-pearl</a> or <a href=\"/wiki/Nacre\" title=\"Nacre\">nacre</a>. In recent years however, the majority of \"pearl buttons\" are imitations that are made of pearlescent plastic.</li></ul>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Creating_Crafts\">Creating Crafts</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=23\" title=\"Edit section: Creating Crafts\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096\"/><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Sailor%27s_Valentines\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sailor&#39;s Valentines\">Sailor's Valentines</a></div>\n<p>\"<a href=\"/wiki/Sailor%27s_Valentines\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sailor&#39;s Valentines\">Sailor's Valentines</a>\" were late 19th-century decorative keepsakes which were made from the Caribbean, and which were often purchased by sailors to give to their loved ones back home for example in England. These valentines consisted of elaborate arrangements of small seashells glued into attractive symmetrical designs, which were encased on a wooden (usually octagonal) hinged box-frame. The patterns used often featured heart-shaped designs, or included a sentimental expression of love spelled out in small shells.\n</p><p>The making of shell work artifacts is a practice of <a href=\"/wiki/Indigenous_Australians\" title=\"Indigenous Australians\">Aboriginal women</a> from <a href=\"/wiki/La_Perouse,_New_South_Wales\" title=\"La Perouse, New South Wales\">La Perouse</a> in <a href=\"/wiki/Sydney\" title=\"Sydney\">Sydney</a>, dating back to the 19th century. Shell work objects include baby shoes, jewelry boxes and replicas of famous landmarks, including the <a href=\"/wiki/Sydney_Harbour_Bridge\" title=\"Sydney Harbour Bridge\">Sydney Harbour Bridge</a> and the <a href=\"/wiki/Sydney_Opera_House\" title=\"Sydney Opera House\">Sydney Opera House</a>. The shellwork tradition began as an Aboriginal women's craft which was adapted and tailored to suit the tourist souvenir market, and which is now considered high art.<sup id=\"cite_ref-11\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-11\">&#91;11&#93;</a></sup>\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Architectural_decoration\">Architectural decoration</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=24\" title=\"Edit section: Architectural decoration\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<p>Small pieces of colored and iridescent shell have been used to create <a href=\"/wiki/Mosaic\" title=\"Mosaic\">mosaics</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Inlay\" title=\"Inlay\">inlays</a>, which have been used to decorate walls, furniture and boxes. Large numbers of whole seashells, arranged to form patterns, have been used to decorate mirror frames, furniture and man-made <a href=\"/wiki/Shell_grotto\" title=\"Shell grotto\">shell grottos</a>.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Art\">Art</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=25\" title=\"Edit section: Art\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Akkulam_shanku.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Akkulam_shanku.jpg/220px-Akkulam_shanku.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Akkulam_shanku.jpg/330px-Akkulam_shanku.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Akkulam_shanku.jpg/440px-Akkulam_shanku.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1600\" data-file-height=\"1200\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Akkulam_shanku.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Enormous seashell sculpture at <a href=\"/wiki/Akkulam\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Akkulam\">Akkulam</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Thiruvananthapuram\" title=\"Thiruvananthapuram\">Thiruvananthapuram</a>, India</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:The_Scallop,_Maggi_Hambling,_Aldeburgh.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/The_Scallop%2C_Maggi_Hambling%2C_Aldeburgh.jpg/220px-The_Scallop%2C_Maggi_Hambling%2C_Aldeburgh.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"146\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/The_Scallop%2C_Maggi_Hambling%2C_Aldeburgh.jpg/330px-The_Scallop%2C_Maggi_Hambling%2C_Aldeburgh.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/The_Scallop%2C_Maggi_Hambling%2C_Aldeburgh.jpg/440px-The_Scallop%2C_Maggi_Hambling%2C_Aldeburgh.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1156\" data-file-height=\"768\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:The_Scallop,_Maggi_Hambling,_Aldeburgh.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Large sculpture of a <a href=\"/wiki/Scallop\" title=\"Scallop\">scallop</a> on the beach at <a href=\"/wiki/Aldeburgh\" title=\"Aldeburgh\">Aldeburgh</a>, by <a href=\"/wiki/Maggi_Hambling\" title=\"Maggi Hambling\">Maggi Hambling</a>, 2003</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg/220px-Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"313\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg/330px-Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg/440px-Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1575\" data-file-height=\"2240\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div><a href=\"/wiki/Aphrodite\" title=\"Aphrodite\">Aphrodite</a>, 1st century BC, 13&#160;cm, 5&#160;in</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tleft\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg/220px-Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"172\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg/330px-Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg/440px-Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1000\" data-file-height=\"784\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Illustration from an 18th-century book, edited by <a href=\"/wiki/Albertus_Seba\" title=\"Albertus Seba\">Albertus Seba</a>. These decorative arrangements were a popular way to display seashells at the time</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tleft\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/220px-Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"284\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/330px-Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/440px-Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"4336\" data-file-height=\"5591\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Portrait of the Shell Collector Jan Govertsen van der Aer, by <a href=\"/wiki/Hendrick_Goltzius\" title=\"Hendrick Goltzius\">Hendrick Goltzius</a> (1603)</div></div></div>\n<p>A very large outdoor sculpture at <a href=\"/wiki/Akkulam\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Akkulam\">Akkulam</a> of a gastropod seashell is a reference to the sacred chank shell <i><a href=\"/wiki/Turbinella_pyrum\" title=\"Turbinella pyrum\">Turbinella pyrum</a></i> of India. In 2003, <a href=\"/wiki/Maggi_Hambling\" title=\"Maggi Hambling\">Maggi Hambling</a> designed a striking 13&#160;ft (4 m) high sculpture of a <a href=\"/wiki/Scallop\" title=\"Scallop\">scallop</a> shell which stands on the beach at <a href=\"/wiki/Aldeburgh\" title=\"Aldeburgh\">Aldeburgh</a>, in England. The goddess of love, <a href=\"/wiki/Venus_(mythology)\" title=\"Venus (mythology)\">Venus</a> or <a href=\"/wiki/Aphrodite\" title=\"Aphrodite\">Aphrodite</a>, is often traditionally depicted rising from the sea on a seashell.  In <i><a href=\"/wiki/The_Birth_of_Venus_(Botticelli)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"The Birth of Venus (Botticelli)\">The Birth of Venus</a></i>, <a href=\"/wiki/Botticelli\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Botticelli\">Botticelli</a> depicted the goddess <a href=\"/wiki/Venus_(goddess)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Venus (goddess)\">Venus</a> rising from the ocean on a <a href=\"/wiki/Scallop\" title=\"Scallop\">scallop</a> shell.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Poultry_feeds\">Poultry feeds</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=26\" title=\"Edit section: Poultry feeds\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<p>Sea shells found in the creek and backwater of the coast of west India are used as an additive to poultry feed. They are crushed and mixed with jowar maize and dry fish.<sup class=\"noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact\" style=\"white-space:nowrap;\">&#91;<i><a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed\" title=\"Wikipedia:Citation needed\"><span title=\"This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2011)\">citation needed</span></a></i>&#93;</sup>\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Use\">Use</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=27\" title=\"Edit section: Use\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<p>Seashells, namely from bivalves<sup id=\"cite_ref-12\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-12\">&#91;12&#93;</a></sup> and gastropods, are fundamentally composed of calcium carbonate. In this sense, they have potential to be used as raw material in the production of <a href=\"/wiki/Lime_(material)\" title=\"Lime (material)\">lime</a>.\n</p><p><span class=\"anchor\" id=\"shellcrete\"></span> Along the <a href=\"/wiki/Gulf_Coast_of_the_United_States\" title=\"Gulf Coast of the United States\">Gulf Coast of the United States</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Oyster\" title=\"Oyster\">oyster</a> shells were mixed into <a href=\"/wiki/Cement\" title=\"Cement\">cement</a> to make \"shellcrete\" which could form bricks, blocks and platforms. It could also be applied over logs.<sup id=\"cite_ref-13\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-13\">&#91;13&#93;</a></sup> A notable example is the 19th-century <a href=\"/wiki/Sabine_Pass_Lighthouse\" title=\"Sabine Pass Lighthouse\">Sabine Pass Lighthouse</a> in Louisiana, near Texas.<sup id=\"cite_ref-14\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-14\">&#91;14&#93;</a></sup>\n</p>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Shells_of_other_marine_invertebrates\">Shells of other marine invertebrates</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=28\" title=\"Edit section: Shells of other marine invertebrates\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1097763485\"/><table class=\"box-Unreferenced_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced\" role=\"presentation\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"mbox-image\"><div class=\"mbox-image-div\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg\" class=\"image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"512\" data-file-height=\"399\" /></a></div></td><td class=\"mbox-text\"><div class=\"mbox-text-span\">This section <b>does not <a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources\" title=\"Wikipedia:Citing sources\">cite</a> any <a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability\" title=\"Wikipedia:Verifiability\">sources</a></b>.<span class=\"hide-when-compact\"> Please help <a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit\">improve this section</a> by <a href=\"/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners\" title=\"Help:Referencing for beginners\">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and <a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence\" title=\"Wikipedia:Verifiability\">removed</a>.</span>  <span class=\"date-container\"><i>(<span class=\"date\">December 2017</span>)</i></span><span class=\"hide-when-compact\"><i> (<small><a href=\"/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal\" title=\"Help:Maintenance template removal\">Learn how and when to remove this template message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Arthropods\">Arthropods</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=29\" title=\"Edit section: Arthropods\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg/220px-Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg/330px-Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg/440px-Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1424\" data-file-height=\"1068\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>The moulted <a href=\"/wiki/Carapace\" title=\"Carapace\">carapace</a> of a <a href=\"/wiki/Lady_crab\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Lady crab\">lady crab</a> found on the beach at <a href=\"/wiki/Long_Beach,_New_York\" title=\"Long Beach, New York\">Long Beach, Long Island, New York State</a></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tleft\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg/220px-Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"149\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg/330px-Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg/440px-Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"800\" data-file-height=\"543\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Shell of <a href=\"/wiki/Horseshoe_crab\" title=\"Horseshoe crab\">horseshoe crab</a> on a beach</div></div></div>\n<p>Many <a href=\"/wiki/Arthropod\" title=\"Arthropod\">arthropods</a> have <a href=\"/wiki/Sclerite\" title=\"Sclerite\">sclerites</a>, or hardened body parts, which form a stiff exoskeleton made up mostly of <a href=\"/wiki/Chitin\" title=\"Chitin\">chitin</a>.  In <a href=\"/wiki/Crustacean\" title=\"Crustacean\">crustaceans</a>, especially those of the class <a href=\"/wiki/Malacostraca\" title=\"Malacostraca\">Malacostraca</a> (crabs, shrimps and lobsters, for instance), the plates of the exoskeleton may be fused to form a more or less rigid <a href=\"/wiki/Carapace\" title=\"Carapace\">carapace</a>. Moulted carapaces of a variety of marine malacostraceans often wash up on beaches. The <a href=\"/wiki/Horseshoe_crab\" title=\"Horseshoe crab\">horseshoe crab</a> is an arthropod of the family <a href=\"/wiki/Limulidae\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Limulidae\">Limulidae</a>. The shells or <a href=\"/wiki/Exuviae\" title=\"Exuviae\">exuviae</a> of these arachnid relatives are common in beach drift in certain areas of the world.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Echinoderms\">Echinoderms</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=30\" title=\"Edit section: Echinoderms\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg/220px-Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg/330px-Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg/440px-Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"3648\" data-file-height=\"2736\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div><a href=\"/wiki/Sea_urchin\" title=\"Sea urchin\">Sea urchin</a> test</div></div></div>\n<p>Some <a href=\"/wiki/Echinoderm\" title=\"Echinoderm\">echinoderms</a> such as <a href=\"/wiki/Sea_urchin\" title=\"Sea urchin\">sea urchins</a>, including <a href=\"/wiki/Heart_urchin\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Heart urchin\">heart urchins</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Sand_dollar\" title=\"Sand dollar\">sand dollars</a>, have a hard \"test\" or shell. After the animal dies, the flesh rots out and the spines fall off, and then fairly often the empty test washes up whole onto a beach, where it can be found by a beachcomber. These tests are fragile and easily broken into pieces.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Brachiopods\">Brachiopods</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=31\" title=\"Edit section: Brachiopods\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:LingulaanatinaAA.JPG\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/LingulaanatinaAA.JPG/220px-LingulaanatinaAA.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"99\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/LingulaanatinaAA.JPG/330px-LingulaanatinaAA.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/LingulaanatinaAA.JPG/440px-LingulaanatinaAA.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"3336\" data-file-height=\"1506\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:LingulaanatinaAA.JPG\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>A whole animal of the brachiopod <i><a href=\"/wiki/Lingula_anatina\" title=\"Lingula anatina\">Lingula anatina</a></i> from Australia with the shell showing on the left</div></div></div>\n<p>The <a href=\"/wiki/Brachiopod\" title=\"Brachiopod\">brachiopods</a>, or lamp shells, superficially resemble clams, but the phylum is not closely related to mollusks. Most lines of brachiopods ended during the <a href=\"/wiki/Permian-Triassic_extinction_event\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Permian-Triassic extinction event\">Permian-Triassic extinction event</a>, and their ecological niche was filled by bivalves. A few of the remaining species of brachiopods occur in the low <a href=\"/wiki/Intertidal_zone\" title=\"Intertidal zone\">intertidal zone</a> and thus can be found live by beachcombers.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Annelids\">Annelids</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=32\" title=\"Edit section: Annelids\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<p>Some <a href=\"/wiki/Polychaetes\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Polychaetes\">polychaetes</a>, marine annelid worms in the family <a href=\"/wiki/Serpulidae\" title=\"Serpulidae\">Serpulidae</a>, secrete a hard tube made of calcium carbonate, adhering to stones or other shells. This tube resembles, and can be confused with, the shell of marine gastropod mollusks in the family <a href=\"/wiki/Vermetidae\" title=\"Vermetidae\">Vermetidae</a>, the worm snails.\n</p>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Other_more_atypical_kinds\">Other more atypical kinds</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=33\" title=\"Edit section: Other more atypical kinds\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<p>A few other categories of marine animals leave remains which might be considered \"seashells\" in the widest possible sense of the word.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Chelonians\">Chelonians</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=34\" title=\"Edit section: Chelonians\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<p><a href=\"/wiki/Sea_turtle\" title=\"Sea turtle\">Sea turtles</a> have a <a href=\"/wiki/Carapace\" title=\"Carapace\">carapace</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Plastron\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Plastron\">plastron</a> of bone and <a href=\"/wiki/Cartilage\" title=\"Cartilage\">cartilage</a> which is developed from their <a href=\"/wiki/Rib\" title=\"Rib\">ribs</a>. Infrequently a turtle \"shell\" will wash up on a beach.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Hard_corals\">Hard corals</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=35\" title=\"Edit section: Hard corals\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG/220px-Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG/330px-Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG/440px-Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"3264\" data-file-height=\"2448\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Dish with beachworn coral pieces, marine gastropod shells, and echinoderm tests, from the Caribbean and the Mediterranean</div></div></div>\n<p>Pieces of the hard skeleton of <a href=\"/wiki/Coral\" title=\"Coral\">corals</a> commonly wash up on beaches in areas where corals grow.\n</p><p>The construction of the shell-like structures of corals are aided by a <a href=\"/wiki/Symbiotic\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Symbiotic\">symbiotic</a> relationship with a class of <a href=\"/wiki/Algae\" title=\"Algae\">algae</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Zooxanthella\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Zooxanthella\">zooxanthellae</a>. Typically a coral polyp will harbor particular species of algae, which will <a href=\"/wiki/Photosynthesis\" title=\"Photosynthesis\">photosynthesise</a> and thereby provide energy for the coral and aid in calcification,<sup id=\"cite_ref-MilneBay_15-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-MilneBay-15\">&#91;15&#93;</a></sup> while living in a safe environment and using the carbon dioxide and nitrogenous waste produced by the polyp.  <a href=\"/wiki/Coral_bleaching\" title=\"Coral bleaching\">Coral bleaching</a> is a disruption of the balance between polyps and algae, and can lead to the breakdown and death of coral reefs.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Soft_corals\">Soft corals</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=36\" title=\"Edit section: Soft corals\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:1-Gorgone.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/1-Gorgone.jpg/220px-1-Gorgone.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"150\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/1-Gorgone.jpg/330px-1-Gorgone.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/1-Gorgone.jpg/440px-1-Gorgone.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1316\" data-file-height=\"900\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:1-Gorgone.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>An x-ray photograph of a <a href=\"/wiki/Gorgonian\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Gorgonian\">gorgonian</a></div></div></div>\n<p>The skeletons of soft corals such as <a href=\"/wiki/Gorgonian\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Gorgonian\">gorgonians</a>, also known as <a href=\"/wiki/Sea_fan\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sea fan\">sea fans</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Sea_whip\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sea whip\">sea whips</a>, commonly wash ashore in the <a href=\"/wiki/Tropics\" title=\"Tropics\">tropics</a> after storms.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Plankton_and_protists\">Plankton and protists</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=37\" title=\"Edit section: Plankton and protists\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1033289096\"/><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Further information: <a href=\"/wiki/Protist_shells\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Protist shells\">Protist shells</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg/220px-Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"145\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg/330px-Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg/440px-Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1796\" data-file-height=\"1180\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Marine <a href=\"/wiki/Diatom\" title=\"Diatom\">diatoms</a> form hard silicate shells</div></div></div>\n<p>Plant-like <a href=\"/wiki/Diatom\" title=\"Diatom\">diatoms</a> and animal-like <a href=\"/wiki/Radiolarian\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Radiolarian\">radiolarians</a> are two forms of <a href=\"/wiki/Plankton\" title=\"Plankton\">plankton</a> which form hard <a href=\"/wiki/Silica\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Silica\">silicate</a> shells. <a href=\"/wiki/Foraminifera\" title=\"Foraminifera\">Foraminifera</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Coccolithophore\" title=\"Coccolithophore\">coccolithophores</a> create shells known as \"<a href=\"/wiki/Test_(biology)\" title=\"Test (biology)\">tests</a>\" which are made of calcium carbonate. These shells and tests are usually microscopic in size, though in the case of foraminifera, they are sometimes visible to the naked eye, often resembling miniature mollusk shells.\n</p>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"See_also\">See also</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=38\" title=\"Edit section: See also\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Bailey-Matthews_Shell_Museum\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum\">Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Marine_biogenic_calcification\" title=\"Marine biogenic calcification\">Marine biogenic calcification</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Mollusk_shell\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mollusk shell\">Mollusk shell</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Ocean_acidification\" title=\"Ocean acidification\">Ocean acidification</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Seashell_resonance\" title=\"Seashell resonance\">Seashell resonance</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Seashell_surface\" title=\"Seashell surface\">Seashell surface</a>, a mathematical construct</li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Shell_growth_in_estuaries\" title=\"Shell growth in estuaries\">Shell growth in estuaries</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Shell_purse\" title=\"Shell purse\">Shell purse</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Small_shelly_fauna\" title=\"Small shelly fauna\">Small shelly fauna</a></li></ul>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"References\">References</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=39\" title=\"Edit section: References\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Citations\">Citations</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=40\" title=\"Edit section: Citations\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<style data-mw-deduplicate=\"TemplateStyles:r1011085734\">.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%;margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class=\"reflist\">\n<div class=\"mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns\"><ol class=\"references\">\n<li id=\"cite_note-1\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-1\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><style data-mw-deduplicate=\"TemplateStyles:r1133582631\">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:\"\\\"\"\"\\\"\"\"'\"\"'\"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url(\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg\")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url(\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg\")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url(\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg\")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url(\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg\")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}</style><cite class=\"citation web cs1\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/07/wildlife-watch-seashells-illegal-trade-handicrafts/\">\"Seashell Souvenirs Are Killing Protected Marine Life\"</a>. <i>Animals</i>. 16 July 2018<span class=\"reference-accessdate\">. Retrieved <span class=\"nowrap\">19 March</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=Animals&amp;rft.atitle=Seashell+Souvenirs+Are+Killing+Protected+Marine+Life&amp;rft.date=2018-07-16&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalgeographic.com%2Fanimals%2F2018%2F07%2Fwildlife-watch-seashells-illegal-trade-handicrafts%2F&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-whoi-2\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\">^ <a href=\"#cite_ref-whoi_2-0\"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href=\"#cite_ref-whoi_2-1\"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href=\"#cite_ref-whoi_2-2\"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><cite class=\"citation web cs1\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/did-you-know/how-are-seashells-made/\">\"How are seashells made?\"</a>. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 2022<span class=\"reference-accessdate\">. Retrieved <span class=\"nowrap\">21 March</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.btitle=How+are+seashells+made%3F&amp;rft.pub=Woods+Hole+Oceanographic+Institution&amp;rft.date=2022&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whoi.edu%2Fknow-your-ocean%2Fdid-you-know%2Fhow-are-seashells-made%2F&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-Poutiers-3\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-Poutiers_3-0\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><cite id=\"CITEREFPoutiers1998\" class=\"citation book cs1 cs1-prop-long-vol\">Poutiers, J. M. (1998). \"Gastropods\". <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/w7191e/w7191e44.pdf\"><i>FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes: The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific</i></a> <span class=\"cs1-format\">(PDF)</span>. Vol.&#160;1. Seaweeds, corals, bivalves and gastropods. Rome: FAO. p.&#160;503.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=bookitem&amp;rft.atitle=Gastropods&amp;rft.btitle=FAO+Species+Identification+Guide+for+Fishery+Purposes%3A+The+living+marine+resources+of+the+Western+Central+Pacific&amp;rft.place=Rome&amp;rft.pages=503&amp;rft.pub=FAO&amp;rft.date=1998&amp;rft.aulast=Poutiers&amp;rft.aufirst=J.+M.&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fao.org%2Fdocrep%2F009%2Fw7191e%2Fw7191e44.pdf&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-4\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-4\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\">Hogendorn, Jan and Johnson Marion: The Shell Money of the Slave Trade. African Studies Series 49, <a href=\"/wiki/Cambridge_University_Press\" title=\"Cambridge University Press\">Cambridge University Press</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Cambridge\" title=\"Cambridge\">Cambridge</a>, 1986.</span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-5\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-5\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><a href=\"/wiki/John_C._Ewers\" title=\"John C. Ewers\">Ewers, John C.</a> \"<a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/BAE/Bulletin164/section2.htm#Shell%20hp\">Hair Pipes in Plains Indian Adornment</a>\", <i>Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 164</i>, pp. 29\u201385.  United States Government Printing Office, Washington&#160;: 1957.</span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-6\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-6\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><cite id=\"CITEREFRaichlen\" class=\"citation web cs1\">Raichlen, Steven. <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1990-11-04-1990308108-story.html\">\"The venerable scallop's versatility makes it a rare culinary blessing\"</a>. <i>baltimoresun.com</i><span class=\"reference-accessdate\">. Retrieved <span class=\"nowrap\">12 November</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=baltimoresun.com&amp;rft.atitle=The+venerable+scallop%27s+versatility+makes+it+a+rare+culinary+blessing&amp;rft.aulast=Raichlen&amp;rft.aufirst=Steven&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.baltimoresun.com%2Fnews%2Fbs-xpm-1990-11-04-1990308108-story.html&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-7\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-7\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\">Berrin, Katherine &amp; Larco Museum. <i>The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the <a href=\"/wiki/Larco_Museum\" title=\"Larco Museum\">Museo Arqueol\u00f3gico Rafael Larco Herrera</a>.</i> New York: <a href=\"/wiki/Thames_and_Hudson\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Thames and Hudson\">Thames and Hudson</a>, 1997.</span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-8\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-8\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\">The Legend of the Sand Dollar</span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-Clark-9\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\">^ <a href=\"#cite_ref-Clark_9-0\"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href=\"#cite_ref-Clark_9-1\"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><cite id=\"CITEREFClark,_Mitchell1996\" class=\"citation web cs1\">Clark, Mitchell (1996). <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http://www.furious.com/perfect/shells.html\">\"Some Basics on Shell Trumpets and some very Basics on how to make them\"</a>. furious.com. <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20131021010404/http://www.furious.com/perfect/shells.html\">Archived</a> from the original on 21 October 2013<span class=\"reference-accessdate\">. Retrieved <span class=\"nowrap\">24 July</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.btitle=Some+Basics+on+Shell+Trumpets+and+some+very+Basics+on+how+to+make+them&amp;rft.pub=furious.com&amp;rft.date=1996&amp;rft.au=Clark%2C+Mitchell&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.furious.com%2Fperfect%2Fshells.html&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-10\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-10\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http://www.nma.gov.au/collections/dulcie_greeno_necklaces\">Tasmanian Aboriginal shell necklaces</a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20110612010907/http://www.nma.gov.au/collections/dulcie_greeno_necklaces/\">Archived</a> 12 June 2011 at the <a href=\"/wiki/Wayback_Machine\" title=\"Wayback Machine\">Wayback Machine</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/National_Museum_of_Australia\" title=\"National Museum of Australia\">National Museum of Australia</a>.</span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-11\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-11\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><cite class=\"citation web cs1\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/collection/highlights/shellwork-sydney-harbour-bridge\">\"Shellwork Sydney Harbour Bridge\"</a>. <i>National Museum of Australia Collections</i>. <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20190130215018/https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/collection/highlights/shellwork-sydney-harbour-bridge\">Archived</a> from the original on 30 January 2019.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=National+Museum+of+Australia+Collections&amp;rft.atitle=Shellwork+Sydney+Harbour+Bridge&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nma.gov.au%2Fexplore%2Fcollection%2Fhighlights%2Fshellwork-sydney-harbour-bridge&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-12\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-12\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><cite id=\"CITEREFFerrazGamelasCoroadoMonteiro2019\" class=\"citation journal cs1\">Ferraz, Eduardo; Gamelas, Jos\u00e9 A. F.; Coroado, Jo\u00e3o; Monteiro, Carlos; Rocha, Fernando (12 July 2019). \"Recycling Waste Seashells to Produce Calcitic Lime: Characterization and Wet Slaking Reactivity\". <i>Waste and Biomass Valorization</i>. <b>10</b>: 2397\u20132414. <a href=\"/wiki/Doi_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Doi (identifier)\">doi</a>:<a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs12649-018-0232-y\">10.1007/s12649-018-0232-y</a>. <a href=\"/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"ISSN (identifier)\">ISSN</a>&#160;<a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1877-2641\">1877-2641</a>.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.jtitle=Waste+and+Biomass+Valorization&amp;rft.atitle=Recycling+Waste+Seashells+to+Produce+Calcitic+Lime%3A+Characterization+and+Wet+Slaking+Reactivity&amp;rft.volume=10&amp;rft.pages=2397-2414&amp;rft.date=2019-07-12&amp;rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1007%2Fs12649-018-0232-y&amp;rft.issn=1877-2641&amp;rft.aulast=Ferraz&amp;rft.aufirst=Eduardo&amp;rft.au=Gamelas%2C+Jos%C3%A9+A.+F.&amp;rft.au=Coroado%2C+Jo%C3%A3o&amp;rft.au=Monteiro%2C+Carlos&amp;rft.au=Rocha%2C+Fernando&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-13\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-13\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><cite class=\"citation book cs1\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://books.google.com/books?id=_aYaAQAAMAAJ\"><i>Preservation News</i></a>. National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States. 1985. p.&#160;94. <q>Brittle buildings made of \"shellcrete,\" a seashell-cement mix applied over logs, are risky to move.</q></cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=Preservation+News&amp;rft.pages=94&amp;rft.pub=National+Trust+for+Historic+Preservation+in+the+United+States.&amp;rft.date=1985&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D_aYaAQAAMAAJ&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-14\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-14\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><cite id=\"CITEREFTunnell2010\" class=\"citation book cs1\">Tunnell, John Wesley (2010). <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://books.google.com/books?id=PIkC-rU2NkoC&amp;pg=PA17\"><i>Encyclopedia of Texas Seashells</i></a>. Texas A&amp;M U. Press. pp.&#160;17\u201319. <a href=\"/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"ISBN (identifier)\">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href=\"/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-60344-337-1\" title=\"Special:BookSources/978-1-60344-337-1\"><bdi>978-1-60344-337-1</bdi></a>. <q>Many impressive old homes and public buildings, as well as more mundane structures such as cisterns and curbs, were constructed of shellcrete bricks in Corpus Christi, Galveston, and other cities along the coast. However, very few exist today.</q></cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=Encyclopedia+of+Texas+Seashells&amp;rft.pages=17-19&amp;rft.pub=Texas+A%26M+U.+Press&amp;rft.date=2010&amp;rft.isbn=978-1-60344-337-1&amp;rft.aulast=Tunnell&amp;rft.aufirst=John+Wesley&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DPIkC-rU2NkoC%26pg%3DPA17&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-MilneBay-15\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-MilneBay_15-0\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\">\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><cite id=\"CITEREFMadl,_P.Yip,_M.2000\" class=\"citation web cs1\">Madl, P. &amp; Yip, M. (2000). <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http://biophysics.sbg.ac.at/png/png3.htm\">\"Field Excursion to Milne Bay Province - Papua New Guinea\"</a>. <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20120128205517/http://biophysics.sbg.ac.at/png/png3.htm\">Archived</a> from the original on 28 January 2012<span class=\"reference-accessdate\">. Retrieved <span class=\"nowrap\">31 March</span> 2006</span>.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.btitle=Field+Excursion+to+Milne+Bay+Province+-+Papua+New+Guinea&amp;rft.date=2000&amp;rft.au=Madl%2C+P.&amp;rft.au=Yip%2C+M.&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbiophysics.sbg.ac.at%2Fpng%2Fpng3.htm&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n</ol></div></div>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Sources\">Sources</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=41\" title=\"Edit section: Sources\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<style data-mw-deduplicate=\"TemplateStyles:r1054258005\">.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul li{list-style:none}@media(max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{padding-left:1.6em;text-indent:-1.6em}}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}</style><div class=\"refbegin\" style=\"\">\n<dl><dt>Books</dt></dl>\n<ul><li>Abbott R. Tucker &amp; S. Peter Dance, 1982, <i>Compendium of Seashells, A full color guide to more than 4,200 of the World's Marine shells</i>, E.P. Dutton, Inc, New York, <link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><a href=\"/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"ISBN (identifier)\">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href=\"/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-525-93269-0\" title=\"Special:BookSources/0-525-93269-0\">0-525-93269-0</a>.</li>\n<li>Abbott R. Tucker, 1985, <i>Seashells of the World: a guide to the better-known species</i>, 1985, Golden Press, New York,  <link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><a href=\"/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"ISBN (identifier)\">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href=\"/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-307-24410-5\" title=\"Special:BookSources/0-307-24410-5\">0-307-24410-5</a>.</li>\n<li>Abbott, R. Tucker, 1986, <i>Seashells of North America</i>, St. Martin's Press, New York, <link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><a href=\"/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"ISBN (identifier)\">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href=\"/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-58238-125-9\" title=\"Special:BookSources/1-58238-125-9\">1-58238-125-9</a>.</li>\n<li>Abbott, R. Tucker, 1974, <i>American Seashells</i>, Second edition, Van Nostrand Rheinhold, New York, <link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1133582631\"/><a href=\"/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"ISBN (identifier)\">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href=\"/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-442-20228-8\" title=\"Special:BookSources/0-442-20228-8\">0-442-20228-8</a>.</li></ul>\n</div>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"External_links\">External links</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=42\" title=\"Edit section: External links\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<style data-mw-deduplicate=\"TemplateStyles:r1134653256\">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:#f9f9f9;display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><div class=\"side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409\"/>\n<div class=\"side-box-flex\">\n<div class=\"side-box-image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" class=\"noviewer\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/60px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/80px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"512\" data-file-height=\"512\" /></div>\n<div class=\"side-box-text plainlist\">Look up <i><b><a href=\"https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/seashell\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"wiktionary:seashell\">seashell</a></b></i> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.</div></div>\n</div><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1134653256\"/><div class=\"side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409\"/>\n<div class=\"side-box-flex\">\n<div class=\"side-box-image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"30\" height=\"40\" class=\"noviewer\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"1024\" data-file-height=\"1376\" /></div>\n<div class=\"side-box-text plainlist\">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;\"><a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Seashells\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"commons:Category:Seashells\">Seashells</a></span>.</div></div>\n</div>\n<link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1134653256\"/><div class=\"side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox\"><link rel=\"mw-deduplicated-inline-style\" href=\"mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409\"/>\n<div class=\"side-box-flex\">\n<div class=\"side-box-image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"34\" height=\"40\" class=\"noviewer\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/51px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/68px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"300\" data-file-height=\"355\" /></div>\n<div class=\"side-box-text plainlist\">Wikiquote has quotations related to <i><b><a href=\"https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Seashell\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"q:Special:Search/Seashell\">Seashell</a></b></i>.</div></div>\n</div>\n<ul><li><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://research.fit.edu/shells/\">Hohlman Shell Collection, Florida Institute of Technology</a></li></ul></div>",
    "request": "Seashell",
    "cleaned_content": "<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><div class=\"shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux\" style=\"display:none\">Hard, protective outer layers created by an animal that lives in the sea</div>\n</style><div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">For the coaster ship, see <a href=\"/wiki/MV_Seashell\" title=\"MV Seashell\">MV Seashell</a>. For the color, see <a href=\"/wiki/Seashell_(color)\" title=\"Seashell (color)\">Seashell (color)</a>.</div>\n<div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Not to be confused with <a href=\"/wiki/Seychelles\" title=\"Seychelles\">Seychelles</a>.</div>\n</style><table class=\"box-More_citations_needed plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove\" role=\"presentation\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"mbox-image\"><div class=\"mbox-image-div\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg\" class=\"image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"512\" data-file-height=\"399\" /></a></div></td><td class=\"mbox-text\"><div class=\"mbox-text-span\">This article <b>needs additional citations for <a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability\" title=\"Wikipedia:Verifiability\">verification</a></b>.<span class=\"hide-when-compact\"> Please help <a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit\">improve this article</a> by <a href=\"/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners\" title=\"Help:Referencing for beginners\">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.<br /><small><span class=\"plainlinks\"><i>Find sources:</i>&#160;<a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"//www.google.com/search?as_eq=wikipedia&amp;q=%22Seashell%22\">\"Seashell\"</a>&#160;\u2013&#160;<a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"//www.google.com/search?tbm=nws&amp;q=%22Seashell%22+-wikipedia&amp;tbs=ar:1\">news</a>&#160;<b>\u00b7</b> <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"//www.google.com/search?&amp;q=%22Seashell%22&amp;tbs=bkt:s&amp;tbm=bks\">newspapers</a>&#160;<b>\u00b7</b> <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"//www.google.com/search?tbs=bks:1&amp;q=%22Seashell%22+-wikipedia\">books</a>&#160;<b>\u00b7</b> <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"//scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22Seashell%22\">scholar</a>&#160;<b>\u00b7</b> <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://www.jstor.org/action/doBasicSearch?Query=%22Seashell%22&amp;acc=on&amp;wc=on\">JSTOR</a></span></small></span>  <span class=\"date-container\"><i>(<span class=\"date\">January 2009</span>)</i></span><span class=\"hide-when-compact\"><i> (<small><a href=\"/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal\" title=\"Help:Maintenance template removal\">Learn how and when to remove this template message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>\n<p class=\"mw-empty-elt\">\n</p>\n</style></style></style><table class=\"sidebar nomobile nowraplinks plainlist\" style=\"width: auto;\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"sidebar-pretitle\">Part of a series on</td></tr><tr><th class=\"sidebar-title-with-pretitle\" style=\"padding-top: 0.2em; background-color: #FADA5E; font-size: 150%;\"><a class=\"mw-selflink selflink\">Seashells</a></th></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-image\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shell_Island_1985.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img alt=\"Shell Island 1985.jpg\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Shell_Island_1985.jpg/100px-Shell_Island_1985.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"100\" height=\"85\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Shell_Island_1985.jpg/150px-Shell_Island_1985.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Shell_Island_1985.jpg/200px-Shell_Island_1985.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"2113\" data-file-height=\"1796\" /></a></td></tr><tr><th class=\"sidebar-heading\" style=\"background-color: #FADA5E;\">\n<a href=\"/wiki/Mollusc_shell\" title=\"Mollusc shell\">Mollusc shells</a></th></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Bivalve_shell\" title=\"Bivalve shell\">Clam shells</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Chiton#Shell\" title=\"Chiton\">Chiton shells</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod_shell\" title=\"Gastropod shell\">Snail shells</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Tusk_shell\" title=\"Tusk shell\">Tusk shells</a></li></ul></td>\n</tr><tr><th class=\"sidebar-heading\" style=\"background-color: #FADA5E;\">\nAbout mollusc shells</th></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Conchology\" title=\"Conchology\">Conchology</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Nacre\" title=\"Nacre\">Nacre</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Valve_(mollusc)\" title=\"Valve (mollusc)\">Valve</a></li></ul></td>\n</tr><tr><th class=\"sidebar-heading\" style=\"background-color: #FADA5E;\">\nOther seashells</th></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Brachiopod#Description\" title=\"Brachiopod\">Brachiopod shells</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Crustacean#Structure\" title=\"Crustacean\">Crustacean shells</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Horseshoe_crab\" title=\"Horseshoe crab\">Horseshoe crabs</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Sea_urchin\" title=\"Sea urchin\">Sea urchin tests</a></li></ul></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-navbar\"></style><div class=\"navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini\"><ul><li class=\"nv-view\"><a href=\"/wiki/Template:Sea_shell_topics\" title=\"Template:Sea shell topics\"><abbr title=\"View this template\">v</abbr></a></li><li class=\"nv-talk\"><a href=\"/wiki/Template_talk:Sea_shell_topics\" title=\"Template talk:Sea shell topics\"><abbr title=\"Discuss this template\">t</abbr></a></li><li class=\"nv-edit\"><a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Sea_shell_topics&amp;action=edit\"><abbr title=\"Edit this template\">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg/220px-Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg/330px-Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg/440px-Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"3072\" data-file-height=\"2304\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Conchiglie_Seashells_01.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Seashells washed up on the beach in <a href=\"/wiki/Valencia,_Spain\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Valencia, Spain\">Valencia, Spain</a>; nearly all are single valves of <a href=\"/wiki/Bivalve\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bivalve\">bivalve</a> <a href=\"/wiki/Mollusk\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mollusk\">mollusks</a>, mostly of <i><a href=\"/wiki/Mactra_corallina\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mactra corallina\">Mactra corallina</a></i></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Selection_of_seashells.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Selection_of_seashells.jpg/220px-Selection_of_seashells.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"239\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Selection_of_seashells.jpg 1.5x\" data-file-width=\"250\" data-file-height=\"272\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Selection_of_seashells.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Hand-picked molluscan seashells (<a href=\"/wiki/Bivalve\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bivalve\">bivalves</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Gastropod\">gastropods</a>) from the beach at <a href=\"/wiki/Clacton_on_Sea\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Clacton on Sea\">Clacton on Sea</a> in England</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashells.JPG\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Seashells.JPG/220px-Seashells.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Seashells.JPG/330px-Seashells.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Seashells.JPG/440px-Seashells.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"3264\" data-file-height=\"2448\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashells.JPG\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>A group of seashells, mostly in the family Pholadidae</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:228px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashell_unknown_3.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Seashell_unknown_3.jpg/226px-Seashell_unknown_3.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"226\" height=\"150\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Seashell_unknown_3.jpg/339px-Seashell_unknown_3.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Seashell_unknown_3.jpg/452px-Seashell_unknown_3.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"4288\" data-file-height=\"2848\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashell_unknown_3.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Mixed shells on a beach in Venezuela</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><video id=\"mwe_player_0\" poster=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/220px--Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.jpg\" controls=\"\" preload=\"none\" class=\"thumbimage\" width=\"220\" height=\"124\" data-durationhint=\"55\" data-mwtitle=\"Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv\" data-mwprovider=\"wikimediacommons\"><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.480p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"SD VP9 (480P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 480P\" data-transcodekey=\"480p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"854\" data-height=\"480\" data-bandwidth=\"994632\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.480p.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp8, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"SD WebM (480P)\" data-shorttitle=\"WebM 480P\" data-transcodekey=\"480p.webm\" data-width=\"854\" data-height=\"480\" data-bandwidth=\"1087368\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.720p.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp8, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"HD WebM (720P)\" data-shorttitle=\"WebM 720P\" data-transcodekey=\"720p.webm\" data-width=\"1280\" data-height=\"720\" data-bandwidth=\"1891728\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.720p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"HD VP9 (720P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 720P\" data-transcodekey=\"720p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"1280\" data-height=\"720\" data-bandwidth=\"2067168\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.1080p.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp8, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"Full HD WebM (1080P)\" data-shorttitle=\"WebM 1080P\" data-transcodekey=\"1080p.webm\" data-width=\"1920\" data-height=\"1080\" data-bandwidth=\"3764112\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.1080p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"Full HD VP9 (1080P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 1080P\" data-transcodekey=\"1080p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"1920\" data-height=\"1080\" data-bandwidth=\"4267600\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv\" type=\"video/ogg; codecs=&quot;theora, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"Original Ogg file, 1,920 \u00d7 1,080 (5.54 Mbps)\" data-shorttitle=\"Ogg source\" data-width=\"1920\" data-height=\"1080\" data-bandwidth=\"5536069\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.120p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"Lowest bandwidth VP9 (120P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 120P\" data-transcodekey=\"120p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"214\" data-height=\"120\" data-bandwidth=\"182472\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.160p.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp8, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"Low bandwidth WebM (160P)\" data-shorttitle=\"WebM 160P\" data-transcodekey=\"160p.webm\" data-width=\"284\" data-height=\"160\" data-bandwidth=\"223968\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.180p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"Low bandwidth VP9 (180P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 180P\" data-transcodekey=\"180p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"320\" data-height=\"180\" data-bandwidth=\"249936\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.240p.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp8, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"Small WebM (240P)\" data-shorttitle=\"WebM 240P\" data-transcodekey=\"240p.webm\" data-width=\"426\" data-height=\"240\" data-bandwidth=\"331184\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.240p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"Small VP9 (240P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 240P\" data-transcodekey=\"240p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"426\" data-height=\"240\" data-bandwidth=\"338944\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.360p.vp9.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp9, opus&quot;\" data-title=\"VP9 (360P)\" data-shorttitle=\"VP9 360P\" data-transcodekey=\"360p.vp9.webm\" data-width=\"640\" data-height=\"360\" data-bandwidth=\"563816\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /><source src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/a1/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv/Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv.360p.webm\" type=\"video/webm; codecs=&quot;vp8, vorbis&quot;\" data-title=\"WebM (360P)\" data-shorttitle=\"WebM 360P\" data-transcodekey=\"360p.webm\" data-width=\"640\" data-height=\"360\" data-bandwidth=\"583104\" data-framerate=\"29.97002997003\" /></video>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashells_living_in_Persian_Gulf.ogv\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div><a href=\"/wiki/Hermit_crab\" title=\"Hermit crab\">Hermit crabs</a> inhabiting shells that lived in the <a href=\"/wiki/Persian_Gulf\" title=\"Persian Gulf\">Persian Gulf</a></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Different_types_of_shells.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Different_types_of_shells.jpg/220px-Different_types_of_shells.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"164\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Different_types_of_shells.jpg/330px-Different_types_of_shells.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Different_types_of_shells.jpg/440px-Different_types_of_shells.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"2592\" data-file-height=\"1936\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Different_types_of_shells.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>A group of beachworn shells that vary in size, form and pattern combination.</div></div></div>\n<p>A <b>seashell</b> or <b>sea shell</b>, also known simply as a <b>shell</b>, is a hard, protective outer layer usually created by an animal or organism that lives in the sea. The shell is part of the body of the animal. Empty seashells are often found washed up on <a href=\"/wiki/Beach\" title=\"Beach\">beaches</a> by <a href=\"/wiki/Beachcombing\" title=\"Beachcombing\">beachcombers</a>. The shells are empty because the animal has died and the soft parts have <a href=\"/wiki/Decomposition\" title=\"Decomposition\">decomposed</a> or been eaten by another animal.\n</p><p>A seashell is usually the <a href=\"/wiki/Exoskeleton\" title=\"Exoskeleton\">exoskeleton</a> of an <a href=\"/wiki/Invertebrate\" title=\"Invertebrate\">invertebrate</a> (an animal without a backbone), and is typically composed of <a href=\"/wiki/Calcium_carbonate\" title=\"Calcium carbonate\">calcium carbonate</a> or <a href=\"/wiki/Chitin\" title=\"Chitin\">chitin</a>. Most shells that are found on beaches are the shells of <a href=\"/wiki/Marine_(ocean)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Marine (ocean)\">marine</a> <a href=\"/wiki/Mollusk\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mollusk\">mollusks</a>, partly because these shells are usually made of calcium carbonate, and endure better than shells made of chitin.\n</p><p>Apart from <a href=\"/wiki/Mollusk_shell\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mollusk shell\">mollusk shells</a>, other shells that can be found on beaches are those of <a href=\"/wiki/Barnacle\" title=\"Barnacle\">barnacles</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Horseshoe_crab\" title=\"Horseshoe crab\">horseshoe crabs</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Brachiopod\" title=\"Brachiopod\">brachiopods</a>. Marine <a href=\"/wiki/Annelid\" title=\"Annelid\">annelid</a> worms in the family <a href=\"/wiki/Serpulidae\" title=\"Serpulidae\">Serpulidae</a> create shells which are tubes made of calcium carbonate cemented onto other surfaces. The shells of <a href=\"/wiki/Sea_urchin\" title=\"Sea urchin\">sea urchins</a> are called \"<a href=\"/wiki/Test_(zoology)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Test (zoology)\">tests</a>\", and the moulted shells of <a href=\"/wiki/Crab\" title=\"Crab\">crabs</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Lobster\" title=\"Lobster\">lobsters</a> are <a href=\"/wiki/Exuviae\" title=\"Exuviae\">exuviae</a>. While most seashells are external, some <a href=\"/wiki/Cephalopods\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cephalopods\">cephalopods</a> have internal shells.\n</p><p>Seashells have been used by humans for many different purposes throughout history and prehistory. However, seashells are not the only kind of shells; in various habitats, there are shells from freshwater animals such as <a href=\"/wiki/Freshwater_mussel\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Freshwater mussel\">freshwater mussels</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Freshwater_snail\" title=\"Freshwater snail\">freshwater snails</a>, and shells of <a href=\"/wiki/Land_snail\" title=\"Land snail\">land snails</a>.\n</p>\n<div id=\"toc\" class=\"toc\" role=\"navigation\" aria-labelledby=\"mw-toc-heading\"><input type=\"checkbox\" role=\"button\" id=\"toctogglecheckbox\" class=\"toctogglecheckbox\" style=\"display:none\" /><div class=\"toctitle\" lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><h2 id=\"mw-toc-heading\">Contents</h2><span class=\"toctogglespan\"><label class=\"toctogglelabel\" for=\"toctogglecheckbox\"></label></span></div>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-1\"><a href=\"#Terminology\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Terminology</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-2\"><a href=\"#Occurrence\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Occurrence</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-3\"><a href=\"#Shell_synthesis\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">3</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Shell synthesis</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-4\"><a href=\"#Molluscan_seashells\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Molluscan seashells</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-5\"><a href=\"#Bivalves\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Bivalves</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-6\"><a href=\"#Gastropods\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Gastropods</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-7\"><a href=\"#Polyplacophorans\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.3</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Polyplacophorans</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-8\"><a href=\"#Cephalopods\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.4</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Cephalopods</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-9\"><a href=\"#Molluscan_seashells_used_by_other_animals\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.5</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Molluscan seashells used by other animals</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-10\"><a href=\"#Mollusks\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.5.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Mollusks</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-11\"><a href=\"#Invertebrates\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.5.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Invertebrates</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-12\"><a href=\"#Conchology\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.6</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Conchology</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-13\"><a href=\"#Shell_clubs\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.6.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Shell clubs</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-14\"><a href=\"#Identification\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.6.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Identification</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-15\"><a href=\"#Non-marine_&quot;seashells&quot;\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.6.3</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Non-marine \"seashells\"</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-16\"><a href=\"#Cultural_significance\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Cultural significance</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-17\"><a href=\"#Currency\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Currency</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-18\"><a href=\"#Tools\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Tools</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-19\"><a href=\"#Horticulture\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.3</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Horticulture</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-20\"><a href=\"#Religion_and_spirituality\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.4</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Religion and spirituality</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-21\"><a href=\"#Musical_instruments\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.5</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Musical instruments</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-22\"><a href=\"#Personal_adornment\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.6</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Personal adornment</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-23\"><a href=\"#Creating_Crafts\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.7</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Creating Crafts</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-24\"><a href=\"#Architectural_decoration\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.8</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Architectural decoration</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-25\"><a href=\"#Art\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.9</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Art</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-3 tocsection-26\"><a href=\"#Poultry_feeds\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.7.10</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Poultry feeds</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-27\"><a href=\"#Use\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">4.8</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Use</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-28\"><a href=\"#Shells_of_other_marine_invertebrates\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">5</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Shells of other marine invertebrates</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-29\"><a href=\"#Arthropods\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">5.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Arthropods</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-30\"><a href=\"#Echinoderms\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">5.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Echinoderms</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-31\"><a href=\"#Brachiopods\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">5.3</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Brachiopods</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-32\"><a href=\"#Annelids\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">5.4</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Annelids</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-33\"><a href=\"#Other_more_atypical_kinds\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">6</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Other more atypical kinds</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-34\"><a href=\"#Chelonians\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">6.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Chelonians</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-35\"><a href=\"#Hard_corals\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">6.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Hard corals</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-36\"><a href=\"#Soft_corals\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">6.3</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Soft corals</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-37\"><a href=\"#Plankton_and_protists\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">6.4</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Plankton and protists</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-38\"><a href=\"#See_also\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">7</span> <span class=\"toctext\">See also</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-39\"><a href=\"#References\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">8</span> <span class=\"toctext\">References</span></a>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-40\"><a href=\"#Citations\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">8.1</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Citations</span></a></li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-2 tocsection-41\"><a href=\"#Sources\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">8.2</span> <span class=\"toctext\">Sources</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n<li class=\"toclevel-1 tocsection-42\"><a href=\"#External_links\"><span class=\"tocnumber\">9</span> <span class=\"toctext\">External links</span></a></li>\n</ul>\n</div>\n\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Terminology\">Terminology</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=1\" title=\"Edit section: Terminology\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<p>When the word \"seashells\" refers only to the shells of marine mollusks, then studying seashells is part of <a href=\"/wiki/Conchology\" title=\"Conchology\">conchology</a>. Conchologists or serious collectors who have a scientific bias are in general careful not to disturb living populations and habitats: even though they may collect a few live animals, most responsible collectors do not often over-collect or otherwise disturb ecosystems.\n</p><p>The study of the entire molluscan animal (as well as the shell) is known as <a href=\"/wiki/Malacology\" title=\"Malacology\">malacology</a>; a person who studies mollusks is known as a <a href=\"/wiki/Malacologist\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Malacologist\">malacologist</a>.\n</p>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Occurrence\">Occurrence</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=2\" title=\"Edit section: Occurrence\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<p>Seashells are commonly found in beach drift, which is natural detritus deposited along strandlines on <a href=\"/wiki/Beach\" title=\"Beach\">beaches</a> by the <a href=\"/wiki/Wave\" title=\"Wave\">waves</a> and the <a href=\"/wiki/Tide\" title=\"Tide\">tides</a>. Shells are very often washed up onto a beach empty and clean, the animal having already died.\n</p><p>Empty seashells are often picked up by beachcombers. However, the majority of seashells which are offered for sale commercially have been collected alive (often in bulk) and then killed and cleaned, specifically for the commercial trade.<sup id=\"cite_ref-1\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-1\">&#91;1&#93;</a></sup> This type of large-scale exploitation can sometimes have a strong negative impact on local <a href=\"/wiki/Ecosystem\" title=\"Ecosystem\">ecosystems</a>, and sometimes can significantly reduce the distribution of <a href=\"/wiki/Rare_species\" title=\"Rare species\">rare species</a>.\n</p>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Shell_synthesis\">Shell synthesis</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=3\" title=\"Edit section: Shell synthesis\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<p>Seashells are created by the <a href=\"/wiki/Mollusca\" title=\"Mollusca\">molluscs</a> that use them for protection.<sup id=\"cite_ref-whoi_2-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-whoi-2\">&#91;2&#93;</a></sup> Molluscs have an outside layer of tissues on their bodies \u2013 the <a href=\"/wiki/Mantle_(mollusc)\" title=\"Mantle (mollusc)\">mantle</a> \u2013 which creates the shell material and which connects the shell to the mollusc. The specialized cells in the mantle form the shell using different <a href=\"/wiki/Mineral_(nutrient)\" title=\"Mineral (nutrient)\">minerals</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Protein\" title=\"Protein\">proteins</a>.<sup id=\"cite_ref-whoi_2-1\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-whoi-2\">&#91;2&#93;</a></sup> The proteins are then used to create the framework that supports the growing shell. <a href=\"/wiki/Calcium_carbonate\" title=\"Calcium carbonate\">Calcium carbonate</a> is the main compound of shell structure, aiding in <a href=\"/wiki/Adhesion\" title=\"Adhesion\">adhesion</a>.<sup id=\"cite_ref-whoi_2-2\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-whoi-2\">&#91;2&#93;</a></sup>\n</p>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Molluscan_seashells\">Molluscan seashells</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=4\" title=\"Edit section: Molluscan seashells\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<table class=\"box-More_citations_needed_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove\" role=\"presentation\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"mbox-image\"><div class=\"mbox-image-div\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg\" class=\"image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"512\" data-file-height=\"399\" /></a></div></td><td class=\"mbox-text\"><div class=\"mbox-text-span\">This section <b>needs additional citations for <a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability\" title=\"Wikipedia:Verifiability\">verification</a></b>.<span class=\"hide-when-compact\"> Please help <a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit\">improve this article</a> by <a href=\"/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners\" title=\"Help:Referencing for beginners\">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.</span>  <span class=\"date-container\"><i>(<span class=\"date\">September 2011</span>)</i></span><span class=\"hide-when-compact\"><i> (<small><a href=\"/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal\" title=\"Help:Maintenance template removal\">Learn how and when to remove this template message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg/220px-Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"147\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg/330px-Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg/440px-Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1721\" data-file-height=\"1150\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Seashells_North_Wales_1985.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Seashells hand-picked from beach drift in <a href=\"/wiki/North_Wales\" title=\"North Wales\">North Wales</a> at <a href=\"/wiki/Shell_Island_(Wales)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Shell Island (Wales)\">Shell Island</a> near <a href=\"/wiki/Harlech_Castle\" title=\"Harlech Castle\">Harlech Castle</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Wales\" title=\"Wales\">Wales</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Bivalve\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bivalve\">bivalves</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Gastropod\">gastropods</a>, March/April 1985</div></div></div>\n<div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Mollusc_shell\" title=\"Mollusc shell\">Mollusc shell</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg/220px-Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"147\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg/330px-Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg/440px-Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"6000\" data-file-height=\"4000\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shells_on_the_seashore.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Shells on the seashore</div></div></div>\n<p>The word <i>seashell</i> is often used to mean only the shell of a <a href=\"/wiki/Marine_(ocean)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Marine (ocean)\">marine</a> <a href=\"/wiki/Mollusk\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mollusk\">mollusk</a>. Marine mollusk shells that are familiar to beachcombers and thus most likely to be called \"seashells\" are the shells of marine species of <a href=\"/wiki/Bivalves\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bivalves\">bivalves</a> (or <a href=\"/wiki/Clam\" title=\"Clam\">clams</a>), <a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Gastropod\">gastropods</a> (or <a href=\"/wiki/Snail\" title=\"Snail\">snails</a>), <a href=\"/wiki/Scaphopod\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Scaphopod\">scaphopods</a> (or <a href=\"/wiki/Tusk_shell\" title=\"Tusk shell\">tusk shells</a>), <a href=\"/wiki/Polyplacophora\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Polyplacophora\">polyplacophorans</a> (or <a href=\"/wiki/Chiton\" title=\"Chiton\">chitons</a>), and <a href=\"/wiki/Cephalopod\" title=\"Cephalopod\">cephalopods</a> (such as <a href=\"/wiki/Nautilus\" title=\"Nautilus\">nautilus</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Spirula\" title=\"Spirula\">spirula</a>). These shells are very often the most commonly encountered, both in the wild, and for sale as decorative objects.\n</p><p>Marine species of gastropods and bivalves are more numerous than land and freshwater species, and the shells are often larger and more robust. The shells of marine species also often have more <a href=\"/wiki/Sculpture_(mollusc)\" title=\"Sculpture (mollusc)\">sculpture</a> and more color, although this is by no means always the case.\n</p><p>In the <a href=\"/wiki/Tropical\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Tropical\">tropical</a> and sub-tropical areas of the planet, there are far more species of colorful, large, shallow water shelled marine mollusks than there are in the temperate zones and the regions closer to the poles.\n</p><p>Although there are a number of species of shelled mollusks that are quite large, there are vast numbers of extremely small species too, see <a href=\"/wiki/Micromollusk\" title=\"Micromollusk\">micromollusks</a>.\n</p><p>Not all mollusks are marine. There are numerous land and freshwater mollusks, see for example <a href=\"/wiki/Snail\" title=\"Snail\">snail</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Freshwater_bivalves\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Freshwater bivalves\">freshwater bivalves</a>. In addition, not all mollusks have an external shell: some mollusks such as some cephalopods (squid and octopuses) have an internal shell, and many mollusks have no shell, see for example <a href=\"/wiki/Slug\" title=\"Slug\">slug</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Nudibranch\" title=\"Nudibranch\">nudibranch</a>.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Bivalves\">Bivalves</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=5\" title=\"Edit section: Bivalves\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Bivalvia\" title=\"Bivalvia\">Bivalvia</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg/220px-CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg/330px-CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg/440px-CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1024\" data-file-height=\"768\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:CoquillagesFadiouth.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Single valves of the <a href=\"/wiki/Bivalve\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bivalve\">bivalve</a> <i><a href=\"/wiki/Senilia_senilis\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Senilia senilis\">Senilia senilis</a></i>, plus two <a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Gastropod\">gastropods</a>, washed up on the beach at <a href=\"/wiki/Fadiouth\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Fadiouth\">Fadiouth</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Senegal\" title=\"Senegal\">Senegal</a></div></div></div>\n<p>Bivalves are often the most common seashells that wash up on large sandy beaches or in sheltered <a href=\"/wiki/Lagoon\" title=\"Lagoon\">lagoons</a>. They can sometimes be extremely numerous. Very often the two <a href=\"/wiki/Valve_(mollusc)\" title=\"Valve (mollusc)\">valves</a> become separated.\n</p><p>There are more than 15,000 species of bivalves that live in both marine and freshwater.  Examples of bivalves are clams, scallops, mussels, and oysters. The majority of bivalves consist of two identical shells that are held together by a flexible hinge.  The animal's body is held protectively inside these two shells. Bivalves that do not have two shells either have one shell or they lack a shell altogether. The shells are made of calcium carbonate and are formed in layers by secretions from the mantle. Bivalves, also known as pelecypods, are mostly filter feeders; through their gills, they draw in water, in which is trapped tiny food particles.  Some bivalves have eyes and an open circulatory system.  Bivalves are used all over the world as food and as a source of pearls. The larvae of some freshwater mussels can be dangerous to fish and can bore through wood.\n</p><p><a href=\"/wiki/Shell_Beach,_Western_Australia\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Shell Beach, Western Australia\">Shell Beach, Western Australia</a>, is a beach which is entirely made up of the shells of the <a href=\"/wiki/Cockle_(bivalve)\" title=\"Cockle (bivalve)\">cockle</a> <i><a href=\"/wiki/Fragum_erugatum\" title=\"Fragum erugatum\">Fragum erugatum</a></i>.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Gastropods\">Gastropods</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=6\" title=\"Edit section: Gastropods\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod_shell\" title=\"Gastropod shell\">Gastropod shell</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Sea_shells,_playa_grande,_costa_rica.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Sea_shells%2C_playa_grande%2C_costa_rica.jpg/220px-Sea_shells%2C_playa_grande%2C_costa_rica.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Sea_shells%2C_playa_grande%2C_costa_rica.jpg/330px-Sea_shells%2C_playa_grande%2C_costa_rica.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Sea_shells%2C_playa_grande%2C_costa_rica.jpg/440px-Sea_shells%2C_playa_grande%2C_costa_rica.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"2592\" data-file-height=\"1944\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Sea_shells,_playa_grande,_costa_rica.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Numerous <i><a href=\"/wiki/Turritella\" title=\"Turritella\">Turritella</a></i> gastropod shells washed up on a beach at <a href=\"/wiki/Playa_Grande,_Costa_Rica\" title=\"Playa Grande, Costa Rica\">Playa Grande, Costa Rica</a></div></div></div>\n<p>Certain species of gastropod seashells (the shells of <a href=\"/wiki/Sea_snail\" title=\"Sea snail\">sea snails</a>) can sometimes be common, washed up on sandy beaches, and also on beaches that are surrounded by rocky marine habitat.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Polyplacophorans\">Polyplacophorans</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=7\" title=\"Edit section: Polyplacophorans\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Chiton\" title=\"Chiton\">Chiton</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tleft\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:132px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg/130px-Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"130\" height=\"315\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg/195px-Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg/260px-Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"714\" data-file-height=\"1731\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Chiton_tuberculatus_plates.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Loose valves or plates from <i><a href=\"/wiki/Chiton_tuberculatus\" title=\"Chiton tuberculatus\">Chiton tuberculatus</a></i> from the beachdrift on the southeast coast of <a href=\"/wiki/Nevis\" title=\"Nevis\">Nevis</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/West_Indies\" title=\"West Indies\">West Indies</a></div></div></div>\n<p><a href=\"/wiki/Chiton\" title=\"Chiton\">Chiton</a> plates or valves often wash up on beaches in rocky areas where chitons are common. Chiton shells, which are composed of eight separate plates and a girdle, usually come apart not long after death, so they are almost always found as disarticulated plates. Plates from larger species of chitons are sometimes known as \"butterfly shells\" because of their shape.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Cephalopods\">Cephalopods</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=8\" title=\"Edit section: Cephalopods\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Cephalopod\" title=\"Cephalopod\">Cephalopod</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:132px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Cuttlebone.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Cuttlebone.jpg/130px-Cuttlebone.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"130\" height=\"72\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Cuttlebone.jpg/195px-Cuttlebone.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Cuttlebone.jpg/260px-Cuttlebone.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"685\" data-file-height=\"378\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Cuttlebone.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Cuttlebone from a <i><a href=\"/wiki/Sepia_(genus)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sepia (genus)\">Sepia</a></i> sp.</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:132px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Nautilus_species_shells.png\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Nautilus_species_shells.png/130px-Nautilus_species_shells.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"130\" height=\"70\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Nautilus_species_shells.png/195px-Nautilus_species_shells.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Nautilus_species_shells.png/260px-Nautilus_species_shells.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"921\" data-file-height=\"498\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Nautilus_species_shells.png\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Shells of 3 species of <i><a href=\"/wiki/Nautilus\" title=\"Nautilus\">Nautilus</a></i></div></div></div>\n<p>Only a few species of <a href=\"/wiki/Cephalopod\" title=\"Cephalopod\">cephalopods</a> have shells (either internal or external) that are sometimes found washed up on beaches.\n</p><p>Some cephalopods such as <i><a href=\"/wiki/Sepia_(genus)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sepia (genus)\">Sepia</a></i>, the cuttlefish, have a large internal shell, the <a href=\"/wiki/Cuttlefish_bone\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cuttlefish bone\">cuttlefish bone</a>, and this often washes up on beaches in parts of the world where cuttlefish are common.\n</p><p><i><a href=\"/wiki/Spirula_spirula\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Spirula spirula\">Spirula spirula</a></i> is a deep water squid-like cephalopod. It has an internal shell which is small (about 1 in or 24&#160;mm) but very light and buoyant. This chambered shell floats very well and therefore washes up easily and is familiar to beachcombers in the tropics.\n</p><p><i><a href=\"/wiki/Nautilus\" title=\"Nautilus\">Nautilus</a></i> is the only genus of cephalopod that has a well-developed external shell. Females of the cephalopod genus <i><a href=\"/wiki/Argonaut_(animal)\" title=\"Argonaut (animal)\">Argonauta</a></i> create a papery egg case which sometimes washes up on tropical beaches and is referred to as a \"paper nautilus\".\n</p><p>The largest group of shelled cephalopods, the <a href=\"/wiki/Ammonite\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Ammonite\">ammonites</a>, are extinct, but their shells are very common in certain areas as <a href=\"/wiki/Fossil\" title=\"Fossil\">fossils</a>.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Molluscan_seashells_used_by_other_animals\">Molluscan seashells used by other animals</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=9\" title=\"Edit section: Molluscan seashells used by other animals\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<p>Empty molluscan seashells are a sturdy, and usually readily available, \"free\" resource which is often easily found on beaches, in the <a href=\"/wiki/Intertidal_zone\" title=\"Intertidal zone\">intertidal zone</a>, and in the shallow subtidal zone.  As such they are sometimes used <a href=\"/wiki/Second-hand\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Second-hand\">second-hand</a> by animals other than humans for various purposes, including for protection (as in <a href=\"/wiki/Hermit_crab\" title=\"Hermit crab\">hermit crabs</a>) and for construction.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Mollusks\">Mollusks</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=10\" title=\"Edit section: Mollusks\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<ul><li>Carrier shells in the family <a href=\"/wiki/Xenophoridae\" title=\"Xenophoridae\">Xenophoridae</a> are marine shelled gastropods, fairly large sea snails. Most species of xenophorids cement a series of objects to the rim of their shells as they grow. These objects are sometimes small pebbles or other hard detritus. Very often shells of bivalves or smaller gastropods are used, depending on what is available on the particular <a href=\"/wiki/Substrate_(biology)\" title=\"Substrate (biology)\">substrate</a> where the snail itself lives. It is not clear whether these shell attachments serve as <a href=\"/wiki/Camouflage\" title=\"Camouflage\">camouflage</a>, or whether they are intended to help prevent the shell sinking into a soft substrate.</li></ul>\n<div class=\"thumb tleft\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Ocellated_octopus.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Ocellated_octopus.jpg/220px-Ocellated_octopus.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Ocellated_octopus.jpg/330px-Ocellated_octopus.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Ocellated_octopus.jpg/440px-Ocellated_octopus.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1000\" data-file-height=\"750\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Ocellated_octopus.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>An ocellated (spotted) octopus using a clamshell as a shelter</div></div></div>\n<ul><li>Small <a href=\"/wiki/Octopus\" title=\"Octopus\">octopuses</a> sometimes use an empty shell as a sort of cave to hide in, or hold seashells around themselves as a form of protection like a temporary fortress.</li></ul>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Invertebrates\">Invertebrates</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=11\" title=\"Edit section: Invertebrates\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Diogenes_pugilator.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Diogenes_pugilator.jpg/220px-Diogenes_pugilator.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Diogenes_pugilator.jpg/330px-Diogenes_pugilator.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Diogenes_pugilator.jpg/440px-Diogenes_pugilator.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"899\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Diogenes_pugilator.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Marine <a href=\"/wiki/Hermit_crab\" title=\"Hermit crab\">hermit crab</a> <i><a href=\"/wiki/Diogenes_pugilator\" title=\"Diogenes pugilator\">Diogenes pugilator</a></i>, using a shell of the dog whelk <i><a href=\"/wiki/Nassarius_reticulatus\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Nassarius reticulatus\">Nassarius reticulatus</a></i></div></div></div>\n<table class=\"sidebar sidebar-collapse nomobile nowraplinks\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"sidebar-pretitle\">Part of a series related to</td></tr><tr><th class=\"sidebar-title-with-pretitle\" style=\"background:#82C3D8; padding:0.2em; font-size:160%; font-weight:bold;\"><a href=\"/wiki/Biomineralization\" title=\"Biomineralization\">Biomineralization</a></th></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Coccolithus_pelagicus.jpg/125px-Coccolithus_pelagicus.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"125\" height=\"125\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Coccolithus_pelagicus.jpg/188px-Coccolithus_pelagicus.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Coccolithus_pelagicus.jpg/250px-Coccolithus_pelagicus.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"400\" data-file-height=\"400\" /></td></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\">General</div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Mineralized_tissues\" title=\"Mineralized tissues\">Mineralized tissues</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Remineralisation\" title=\"Remineralisation\">Remineralisation</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Biocrystallization\" title=\"Biocrystallization\">Biocrystallization</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Biointerface\" title=\"Biointerface\">Biointerface</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Biofilm\" title=\"Biofilm\">Biofilm</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\"><a href=\"/wiki/Exoskeleton\" title=\"Exoskeleton\">Exoskeletons</a> (shells)</div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li>Arthropod\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Arthropod_exoskeleton\" title=\"Arthropod exoskeleton\">exoskeleton</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Arthropod_cuticle\" title=\"Arthropod cuticle\">cuticle</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Brachiopod#Shells_and_their_mechanisms\" title=\"Brachiopod\">Brachiopod shell</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Cephalopod#Shell\" title=\"Cephalopod\">Cephalopod shell</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Cirrate_shell\" title=\"Cirrate shell\">cirrate shell</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Cuttlebone\" title=\"Cuttlebone\">cuttlebone</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Gladius_(cephalopod)\" title=\"Gladius (cephalopod)\">gladius</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Lorica_(biology)\" title=\"Lorica (biology)\">Lorica</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Choanoflagellate#Silicon_biomineralization\" title=\"Choanoflagellate\">Choanoflagellate lorica</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Protist_shell\" title=\"Protist shell\">Protist shell</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Coccosphere\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Coccosphere\">coccosphere</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Coccolith\" title=\"Coccolith\">coccolith</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Frustule\" title=\"Frustule\">diatom frustule</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Foraminifera_test\" title=\"Foraminifera test\">foraminifera test</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Testate_amoebae\" title=\"Testate amoebae\">testate amoebae</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a class=\"mw-selflink selflink\">Seashell</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Stereom\" title=\"Stereom\">echinoderm stereom</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Mollusc_shell\" title=\"Mollusc shell\">mollusc shell</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Nacre\" title=\"Nacre\">nacre</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Chiton#Shell\" title=\"Chiton\">chiton shell</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod_shell\" title=\"Gastropod shell\">gastropod shell</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Small_shelly_fauna\" title=\"Small shelly fauna\">small shelly fauna</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Scaly-foot_gastropod#Shell\" title=\"Scaly-foot gastropod\">scaly-foot snail shell</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Shell_growth_in_estuaries\" title=\"Shell growth in estuaries\">estuary shells</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Sponge_spicule\" title=\"Sponge spicule\">Sponge spicule</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Test_(biology)\" title=\"Test (biology)\">Test</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\"><a href=\"/wiki/Endoskeleton\" title=\"Endoskeleton\">Endoskeletons</a> (<a href=\"/wiki/Bone\" title=\"Bone\">bones</a>)</div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Skeleton#Vertebrates\" title=\"Skeleton\">Vertebrate skeleton</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Bone_mineral\" title=\"Bone mineral\">Bone mineral</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Ossification\" title=\"Ossification\">Ossification</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\">Teeth, scales, tusks etc</div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Limpet#Biomineralization\" title=\"Limpet\">Limpet teeth</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Otolith\" title=\"Otolith\">Otolith</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Otolithic_membrane\" title=\"Otolithic membrane\">otolithic membrane</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Scale_microfossils\" title=\"Scale microfossils\">Scale microfossils</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Tusk\" title=\"Tusk\">Tusk</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\"><a href=\"/wiki/Calcification\" title=\"Calcification\">Calcification</a></div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Amorphous_calcium_carbonate\" title=\"Amorphous calcium carbonate\">amorphous calcium carbonate</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Marine_biogenic_calcification\" title=\"Marine biogenic calcification\">marine biogenic calcification</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Calcareous_nannofossils\" title=\"Calcareous nannofossils\">calcareous nannofossils</a></li></ul>\n</div>\n<div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Aragonite\" title=\"Aragonite\">Aragonite</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Oolitic_aragonite_sand\" title=\"Oolitic aragonite sand\">oolitic aragonite sand</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Aragonite_sea\" title=\"Aragonite sea\">aragonite sea</a></li></ul></li></ul>\n</div>\n<div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Calcite\" title=\"Calcite\">Calcite</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Microbiologically_induced_calcite_precipitation\" title=\"Microbiologically induced calcite precipitation\">microbial calcite precipitation</a><br /></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Calcite_sea\" title=\"Calcite sea\">calcite sea</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Great_Calcite_Belt\" title=\"Great Calcite Belt\">Great Calcite Belt</a></li></ul></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\"><a href=\"/wiki/Silicification\" title=\"Silicification\">Silicification</a></div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Biogenic_silica\" title=\"Biogenic silica\">biogenic silica</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Siliceous_ooze\" title=\"Siliceous ooze\">siliceous ooze</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth\" title=\"Diatomaceous earth\">diatomaceous earth</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\">Other forms</div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Bone_bed\" title=\"Bone bed\">Bone bed</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Kerogen\" title=\"Kerogen\">Kerogen</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Alginite\" title=\"Alginite\">alginite</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Oil_shale\" title=\"Oil shale\">oil shale</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Phosphate\" title=\"Phosphate\">Phosphate</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Phosphorite\" title=\"Phosphorite\">phosphorite</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Pyrena\" title=\"Pyrena\">Pyrena</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-content\">\n<div class=\"sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed\"><div class=\"sidebar-list-title\" style=\"text-align:center;font-size:100%;font-weight:bold;\">Related</div><div class=\"sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content\"><div class=\"hlist\">\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Mineral_evolution\" title=\"Mineral evolution\">Mineral evolution</a></li>\n<li>In soil\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Mineralization_(soil_science)\" title=\"Mineralization (soil science)\">mineralization</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Immobilization_(soil_science)\" title=\"Immobilization (soil science)\">immobilization</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Ballast_minerals\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Ballast minerals\">Ballast minerals</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Magnetofossil\" title=\"Magnetofossil\">Magnetofossil</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Magnetosome\" title=\"Magnetosome\">Magnetosome</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Magnetotactic_bacteria\" title=\"Magnetotactic bacteria\">Magnetotactic bacteria</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Magnetoreception\" title=\"Magnetoreception\">Magnetoreception</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Microfossil\" title=\"Microfossil\">Microfossils</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Engrailed_(gene)\" title=\"Engrailed (gene)\"><i>engrailed</i> gene</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Druse_(botany)\" title=\"Druse (botany)\">Druse</a></li>\n<li><i><a href=\"/wiki/Cupriavidus_metallidurans\" title=\"Cupriavidus metallidurans\">Cupriavidus metallidurans</a></i></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Biomineralising_polychaete\" title=\"Biomineralising polychaete\">Biomineralising polychaetes</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Mineral_(nutrient)\" title=\"Mineral (nutrient)\">Mineral nutrients</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Microbial_mat\" title=\"Microbial mat\">Microbial mat</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Fossil#Fossilization_processes\" title=\"Fossil\">Fossilization</a>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Permineralization\" title=\"Permineralization\">permineralization</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Petrifaction\" title=\"Petrifaction\">petrifaction</a></li></ul></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Burgess_Shale-type_preservation#Preservational_regime\" title=\"Burgess Shale-type preservation\">Burgess Shale preservation</a></li></ul>\n</div></div></div></td>\n</tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-below hlist\" style=\"background-color: #82C3D8; border-color: #A2B8BF\">\n<ul><li><span class=\"nowrap\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/16px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Category\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" class=\"noviewer\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/23px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/31px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"180\" data-file-height=\"185\" />&#160;<a href=\"/wiki/Category:Biomineralization\" title=\"Category:Biomineralization\">Category</a></span></li></ul></td></tr><tr><td class=\"sidebar-navbar\"><div class=\"navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini\"><ul><li class=\"nv-view\"><a href=\"/wiki/Template:Biomineralization_sidebar\" title=\"Template:Biomineralization sidebar\"><abbr title=\"View this template\">v</abbr></a></li><li class=\"nv-talk\"><a href=\"/wiki/Template_talk:Biomineralization_sidebar\" title=\"Template talk:Biomineralization sidebar\"><abbr title=\"Discuss this template\">t</abbr></a></li><li class=\"nv-edit\"><a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Biomineralization_sidebar&amp;action=edit\"><abbr title=\"Edit this template\">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table>\n<ul><li>Almost all genera of <a href=\"/wiki/Hermit_crab\" title=\"Hermit crab\">hermit crabs</a> use or \"wear\" empty marine gastropod shells throughout their lifespan, in order to protect their soft abdomens, and in order to have a strong shell to withdraw into if attacked by a predator. Each individual hermit crab is forced to find another gastropod shell on a regular basis, whenever it grows too large for the one it is currently using.</li></ul>\n<dl><dd>Some hermit crab species live on land and may be found quite some distance from the sea, including those in the tropical genus <i><a href=\"/wiki/Coenobita\" title=\"Coenobita\">Coenobita</a></i>.</dd></dl>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Conchology\">Conchology</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=12\" title=\"Edit section: Conchology\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Conchology\" title=\"Conchology\">Conchology</a></div>\n<p>There are numerous popular books and <a href=\"/wiki/Field_guide\" title=\"Field guide\">field guides</a> on the subject of shell-collecting. Although there are a number of books about land and freshwater mollusks, the majority of popular books emphasize, or focus exclusively on, the shells of marine mollusks. Both the science of studying mollusk shells and the hobby of collecting and classifying them are known as <a href=\"/wiki/Conchology\" title=\"Conchology\">conchology</a>. The line between professionals and amateur enthusiasts is often not well defined in this subject, because many amateurs have contributed to, and continue to contribute to, conchology and the larger science of <a href=\"/wiki/Malacology\" title=\"Malacology\">malacology</a>. Many shell collectors belong to \"shell clubs\" where they can meet others who share their interests. A large number of amateurs collect the shells of marine mollusks, and this is partly because many shells wash up empty on beaches, or live in the <a href=\"/wiki/Intertidal\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Intertidal\">intertidal</a> or sub-tidal zones, and are therefore easily found and preserved without much in the way of specialized equipment or expensive supplies. Some shell collectors find their own material and keep careful records, or buy only \"specimen shells\", which means shells which have full collecting <a href=\"/wiki/Data\" title=\"Data\">data</a>: information including how, when, where, in what habitat, and by whom, the shells were collected. On the other hand, some collectors buy the more widely available commercially imported exotic shells, the majority of which have very little data, or none at all. To <a href=\"/wiki/Museum\" title=\"Museum\">museum</a> scientists, having full collecting data (when, where, and by whom it was collected) with a specimen is far more important than having the shell correctly identified. Some owners of shell collections hope to be able to donate their collection to a major natural history or zoology museum at some point, however, shells with little or no collecting data are usually of no value to science, and are likely not to be accepted by a major museum. Apart from any damage to the shell that may have happened <i>before</i> it was collected, shells can also suffer damage when they are stored or displayed. For an example of one rather serious kind of damage see <a href=\"/wiki/Byne%27s_disease\" title=\"Byne&#39;s disease\">Byne's disease</a>.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Shell_clubs\">Shell clubs</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=13\" title=\"Edit section: Shell clubs\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<p>There are a number of clubs or societies which consist of people who are united by a shared interest in shells. In the US, these clubs are more common in southerly coastal areas, such as <a href=\"/wiki/Florida\" title=\"Florida\">Florida</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/California\" title=\"California\">California</a>, where the marine fauna is rich in species.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Identification\">Identification</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=14\" title=\"Edit section: Identification\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<p>Seashells are usually identified by consulting general or regional shell-collecting <a href=\"/wiki/Field_guide\" title=\"Field guide\">field guides</a>, and specific scientific books on different taxa of shell-bearing mollusks (<a href=\"/wiki/Monograph\" title=\"Monograph\">monographs</a>) or \"iconographies\" (limited text \u2013 mainly photographs or other illustrations). (For a few titles on this subject in the US, see the list of books at the foot of this article.) Identifications to the species level are generally achieved by examining illustrations and written descriptions, rather than by the use of <a href=\"/wiki/Identification_key\" title=\"Identification key\">Identification keys</a>, as is often the case in identifying plants and other phyla of invertebrates. The construction of functional keys for the identification of the shells of marine mollusks to the species level can be very difficult, because of the great variability within many species and families. The identification of certain individual species is often very difficult, even for a specialist in that particular family. Some species cannot be differentiated on the basis of shell character alone.\n</p><p>Numerous smaller and more obscure mollusk species (see <a href=\"/wiki/Micromollusk\" title=\"Micromollusk\">micromollusk</a>) are yet to be discovered and named. In other words, they have not yet been differentiated from similar species and assigned scientific (binomial) names in articles in journals recognized by the <a href=\"/wiki/International_Commission_on_Zoological_Nomenclature\" title=\"International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature\">International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature</a> (ICZN). Large numbers of new species are published in the scientific literature each year. There are currently an estimated 100,000 species of mollusks worldwide.\n</p>\n<h4><span id=\"Non-marine_.22seashells.22\"></span><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Non-marine_&quot;seashells&quot;\">Non-marine \"seashells\"</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=15\" title=\"Edit section: Non-marine &quot;seashells&quot;\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shells01.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Shells01.jpg/220px-Shells01.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Shells01.jpg/330px-Shells01.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Shells01.jpg/440px-Shells01.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"2048\" data-file-height=\"1536\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shells01.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>A group of purchased (mostly marine) shells includes the shell of a large tropical land snail (upper right), and a shiny freshwater apple snail shell (center)</div></div></div>\n<p>The term <i>seashell</i> is also applied loosely to mollusk shells that are not of marine origin, for example by people walking the shores of lakes and rivers using the term for the <a href=\"/wiki/Freshwater_mollusc\" title=\"Freshwater mollusc\">freshwater mollusk</a> shells they encounter.  Seashells purchased from tourist shops or dealers may include various freshwater and terrestrial shells as well.  Non-marine items offered may include large and colorful tropical <a href=\"/wiki/Snail\" title=\"Snail\">land snail</a> shells, freshwater <a href=\"/wiki/Apple_snail\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Apple snail\">apple snail</a> shells, and pearly freshwater <a href=\"/wiki/Unionid_mussel\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Unionid mussel\">unionid mussel</a> shells.  This can be confusing to collectors, as non-marine shells are often not included in their reference books.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Cultural_significance\">Cultural significance</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=16\" title=\"Edit section: Cultural significance\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Further information: <a href=\"/wiki/Molluscs_in_culture\" title=\"Molluscs in culture\">Molluscs in culture</a></div>\n<table class=\"box-More_citations_needed_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Refimprove\" role=\"presentation\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"mbox-image\"><div class=\"mbox-image-div\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg\" class=\"image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"512\" data-file-height=\"399\" /></a></div></td><td class=\"mbox-text\"><div class=\"mbox-text-span\">This section <b>needs additional citations for <a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability\" title=\"Wikipedia:Verifiability\">verification</a></b>.<span class=\"hide-when-compact\"> Please help <a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit\">improve this article</a> by <a href=\"/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners\" title=\"Help:Referencing for beginners\">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.</span>  <span class=\"date-container\"><i>(<span class=\"date\">July 2016</span>)</i></span><span class=\"hide-when-compact\"><i> (<small><a href=\"/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal\" title=\"Help:Maintenance template removal\">Learn how and when to remove this template message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Currency\">Currency</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=17\" title=\"Edit section: Currency\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Shell_money\" title=\"Shell money\">shell money</a></div>\n<p>Seashells have been used as a medium of exchange in various places, including many Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean islands, also in North America, Africa and the Caribbean.\n</p>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg/220px-Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"63\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg/330px-Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg/440px-Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"3000\" data-file-height=\"856\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Cypraea-moneta-001.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>1742 drawing of shells of the money cowry, <i><a href=\"/wiki/Monetaria_moneta\" title=\"Monetaria moneta\">Monetaria moneta</a></i></div></div></div>\n<ul><li>The most common species of shells to be used as currency have been <i><a href=\"/wiki/Monetaria_moneta\" title=\"Monetaria moneta\">Monetaria moneta</a></i>, the \"money <a href=\"/wiki/Cowry\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cowry\">cowry</a>\",<sup id=\"cite_ref-Poutiers_3-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-Poutiers-3\">&#91;3&#93;</a></sup><sup id=\"cite_ref-4\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-4\">&#91;4&#93;</a></sup> and certain <a href=\"/wiki/Dentalium_(anthropology)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Dentalium (anthropology)\">dentalium</a> <a href=\"/wiki/Tusk_shell\" title=\"Tusk shell\">tusk shells</a>, used in North Western North America for many centuries.</li>\n<li>Many of the tribes and nations all across the continent of Africa have historically used the <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20160323070635/http://www.blackhistorypages.net/pages/cowrie.php\">cowry</a> as their media of exchange. The cowry circulated, historically, alongside metal coins and goods, and foreign currencies. Being durable and easy to carry the cowry made a very favorable currency.</li>\n<li>Some tribes of the <a href=\"/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas\" title=\"Indigenous peoples of the Americas\">indigenous peoples of the Americas</a> used shells for <a href=\"/wiki/Wampum\" title=\"Wampum\">wampum</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Hair_pipe\" title=\"Hair pipe\">hair pipes</a>.<sup id=\"cite_ref-5\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-5\">&#91;5&#93;</a></sup> The Native American <i><a href=\"/wiki/Wampum\" title=\"Wampum\">wampum</a> belts</i> were made of the shell of the <a href=\"/wiki/Quahog\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Quahog\">quahog</a> clam.</li></ul>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Tools\">Tools</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=18\" title=\"Edit section: Tools\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<p>Seashells have often been used as <a href=\"/wiki/Tool\" title=\"Tool\">tools</a>, because of their strength and the variety of their shapes.\n</p>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Giant_clam\" title=\"Giant clam\">Giant clams</a> (Family Tridacnidae) have been used as bowls, and when big enough, even as bathtubs and <a href=\"/wiki/Baptism\" title=\"Baptism\">baptismal</a> fonts.</li>\n<li><i><a href=\"/wiki/Melo_melo\" title=\"Melo melo\">Melo melo</a></i>, the \"bailer <a href=\"/wiki/Volutidae\" title=\"Volutidae\">volute</a>\", is so named because Native Australians used it to <a href=\"/wiki/Bailing_(boats)\" title=\"Bailing (boats)\">bail out</a> their canoes.</li>\n<li>Many different species of bivalves have been used as scrapers, blades, clasps, and other such tools, due to their shape.</li>\n<li>Some marine gastropods have been used for <a href=\"/wiki/Oil_lamp\" title=\"Oil lamp\">oil lamps</a>, the oil being poured in the aperture of the shell, and the <a href=\"/wiki/Siphonal_canal\" title=\"Siphonal canal\">siphonal canal</a> serving as a holder for the wick.</li></ul>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Horticulture\">Horticulture</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=19\" title=\"Edit section: Horticulture\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<p>Because seashells are in some areas a readily available bulk source of calcium carbonate, shells such as <a href=\"/wiki/Oyster\" title=\"Oyster\">oyster</a> shells are sometimes used as soil conditioners in <a href=\"/wiki/Horticulture\" title=\"Horticulture\">horticulture</a>. The shells are broken or ground into small pieces in order to have the desired effect of raising the <a href=\"/wiki/PH\" title=\"PH\">pH</a> and increasing the <a href=\"/wiki/Calcium\" title=\"Calcium\">calcium</a> content in the soil.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Religion_and_spirituality\">Religion and spirituality</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=20\" title=\"Edit section: Religion and spirituality\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg/220px-Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"125\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg/330px-Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg/440px-Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"501\" data-file-height=\"284\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Flag_of_Kingdom_of_Travancore.svg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>A sacred chank shell on the flag of <a href=\"/wiki/Travancore\" title=\"Travancore\">Travancore</a>, India</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539,_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology,_London.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539%2C_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology%2C_London.jpg/220px-Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539%2C_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology%2C_London.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"186\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539%2C_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology%2C_London.jpg/330px-Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539%2C_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology%2C_London.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539%2C_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology%2C_London.jpg/440px-Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539%2C_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology%2C_London.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"4566\" data-file-height=\"3858\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Spatha_shell._From_Naqada_tomb_1539,_Egypt._Naqada_I_period._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology,_London.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Spatha shell. From Naqada tomb 1539, Egypt. Naqada I period. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London</div></div></div>\n<p>Seashells have played a part in religion and spirituality, sometimes even as ritual objects.\n</p>\n<ul><li>In Christianity, the <a href=\"/wiki/Scallop\" title=\"Scallop\">scallop</a> shell is considered to be the symbol of <a href=\"/wiki/Saint_James_the_Great\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Saint James the Great\">Saint James the Great</a>, see <i><a href=\"/wiki/Pecten_jacobaeus\" title=\"Pecten jacobaeus\">Pecten jacobaeus</a></i>.<sup id=\"cite_ref-6\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-6\">&#91;6&#93;</a></sup></li>\n<li>In <a href=\"/wiki/Hinduism\" title=\"Hinduism\">Hinduism</a>, left-handed shells of <i><a href=\"/wiki/Turbinella_pyrum\" title=\"Turbinella pyrum\">Turbinella pyrum</a></i> (the sacred <a href=\"/wiki/Shankha\" title=\"Shankha\">shankha</a>) are considered to be sacred to the god <a href=\"/wiki/Vishnu\" title=\"Vishnu\">Vishnu</a>. The person who finds a left-handed chank shell (one that coils to the left) is sacred to Vishnu, as well. The chank shell also plays an important role in <a href=\"/wiki/Buddhism\" title=\"Buddhism\">Buddhism</a>.</li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Cowries\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cowries\">Cowries</a> have often been considered to be symbols of female fertility. They were often treated as actual fertility <a href=\"/wiki/Amulet\" title=\"Amulet\">charms</a>. The dorsum of the shell resembles a pregnant belly, and the underside of the shell resembles a <a href=\"/wiki/Vulva\" title=\"Vulva\">vulva</a>. In the South Indian state of Kerala, cowries are used for making astrological predictions.</li>\n<li>In the <a href=\"/wiki/Santer%C3%ADa\" title=\"Santer\u00eda\">Santer\u00eda</a> religion, shells are used for <a href=\"/wiki/Divination\" title=\"Divination\">divination</a>.</li>\n<li>The <a href=\"/wiki/Moche_(culture)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Moche (culture)\">Moche</a> culture of ancient <a href=\"/wiki/Peru\" title=\"Peru\">Peru</a> worshipped animals and the sea, and often depicted shells in their art.<sup id=\"cite_ref-7\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-7\">&#91;7&#93;</a></sup></li>\n<li>In Christianity, the top of the <a href=\"/wiki/Sand_dollar\" title=\"Sand dollar\">sand dollar</a> represents the Star of Bethlehem that led the Wise Men to the manger of Christ. Outside the \"star\" you will see the Easter Lily, a sign of Jesus' Resurrection. There are four holes that represent the holes in the Lord's hands and feet. The center hole is the Wound to His Sacred Heart by the spear of Longinus. On the other side of the sand dollar, you will see Poinsettia. Lastly, if you break open the sand dollar, five doves will come out, the doves of Peace and Joy.<sup id=\"cite_ref-8\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-8\">&#91;8&#93;</a></sup></li></ul>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Musical_instruments\">Musical instruments</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=21\" title=\"Edit section: Musical instruments\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Conch_(musical_instrument)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Conch (musical instrument)\">Conch (musical instrument)</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg/220px-Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"146\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg/330px-Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg/440px-Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"697\" data-file-height=\"463\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Hindu_priest_blowing_conch_during_punja.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Hindu priest sounding a ritual trumpet made from <i><a href=\"/wiki/Turbinella_pyrum\" title=\"Turbinella pyrum\">Turbinella pyrum</a></i></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg/220px-Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg/330px-Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg/440px-Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"800\" data-file-height=\"600\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Gyeonbokgung-March-01.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Korean military procession with <i><a href=\"/wiki/Charonia\" title=\"Charonia\">Charonia</a></i> trumpets</div></div></div>\n<p>Seashells have been used as musical instruments, <a href=\"/wiki/Wind_instruments\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Wind instruments\">wind instruments</a> for many hundreds if not thousands of years. Most often the shells of large sea snails are used, as trumpets, by cutting a hole in the <a href=\"/wiki/Spire_(mollusc)\" title=\"Spire (mollusc)\">spire</a> of the shell or cutting off the tip of the spire altogether. Various different kinds of large marine gastropod shells can be turned into \"blowing shells\", however the most commonly encountered species used as \"<a href=\"/wiki/Conch\" title=\"Conch\">conch</a>\" trumpets are:\n</p>\n<ul><li>The sacred chank, <i><a href=\"/wiki/Turbinella_pyrum\" title=\"Turbinella pyrum\">Turbinella pyrum</a></i>, known in India as the <a href=\"/wiki/Shankha\" title=\"Shankha\">shankha</a>. In <a href=\"/wiki/Tibet\" title=\"Tibet\">Tibet</a> it is known as \"dung-dkar\".<sup id=\"cite_ref-Clark_9-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-Clark-9\">&#91;9&#93;</a></sup></li>\n<li>The <a href=\"/wiki/Triton_(mollusk)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Triton (mollusk)\">Triton shell</a> also known as \"Triton's trumpet\" <i><a href=\"/wiki/Charonia_tritonis\" title=\"Charonia tritonis\">Charonia tritonis</a></i> which is used as a trumpet in Melanesian and Polynesian culture and also in <a href=\"/wiki/Korea\" title=\"Korea\">Korea</a> and Japan. In Japan this kind of trumpet is known as the <a href=\"/wiki/Horagai\" title=\"Horagai\">horagai</a>. In Korea it is known as the <a href=\"/wiki/Nagak\" title=\"Nagak\">nagak</a>. In some Polynesian islands it is known as \"<i>pu</i>\".<sup id=\"cite_ref-Clark_9-1\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-Clark-9\">&#91;9&#93;</a></sup></li>\n<li>The <a href=\"/wiki/Queen_Conch\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Queen Conch\">Queen Conch</a> <i><a href=\"/wiki/Lobatus_gigas\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Lobatus gigas\">Lobatus gigas</a></i>, has been used as a trumpet in the Caribbean.</li></ul>\n<p>Children in some cultures are often told the myth that you can hear the sound of the ocean by holding a seashell to ones ear. This is due to the effect of <a href=\"/wiki/Seashell_resonance\" title=\"Seashell resonance\">seashell resonance</a>.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Personal_adornment\">Personal adornment</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=22\" title=\"Edit section: Personal adornment\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg/220px-Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"293\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg/330px-Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg/440px-Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1200\" data-file-height=\"1600\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Kikuyu_woman_traditional_dress.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Use of <a href=\"/wiki/Gastropod_shell\" title=\"Gastropod shell\">gastropod shells</a>, specifically <a href=\"/wiki/Cowries\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cowries\">cowries</a>, in traditional dress of the <a href=\"/wiki/Kikuyu_people\" title=\"Kikuyu people\">Kikuyu people</a> of <a href=\"/wiki/Kenya\" title=\"Kenya\">Kenya</a>, Africa</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Pearlykingandqueen.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Pearlykingandqueen.jpg/220px-Pearlykingandqueen.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"327\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Pearlykingandqueen.jpg/330px-Pearlykingandqueen.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Pearlykingandqueen.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"336\" data-file-height=\"500\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Pearlykingandqueen.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>A <a href=\"/wiki/Pearly_Kings_and_Queens\" title=\"Pearly Kings and Queens\">Pearly King and Queen</a> in London</div></div></div>\n<p>Whole seashells or parts of sea shells have been used as jewelry or in other forms of adornment since prehistoric times. <a href=\"/wiki/Mother_of_pearl\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mother of pearl\">Mother of pearl</a> was historically primarily a seashell product, although more recently some mother of pearl comes from freshwater mussels. Also see <a href=\"/wiki/Pearl\" title=\"Pearl\">pearl</a>.\n</p>\n<ul><li>Shell necklaces have been found in Stone Age graves as far inland as the <a href=\"/wiki/Dordogne\" title=\"Dordogne\">Dordogne</a> Valley in France.</li>\n<li>Seashells are often used whole and drilled, so that they can be threaded like <a href=\"/wiki/Bead\" title=\"Bead\">beads</a>, or cut into pieces of various shapes. Sometimes shells can be found that are already \"drilled\" by predatory snails of the family <a href=\"/wiki/Naticidae\" title=\"Naticidae\">Naticidae</a>. Fine whole shell necklaces were made by <a href=\"/wiki/Tasmanian_Aboriginal\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Tasmanian Aboriginal\">Tasmanian Aboriginal</a> women for more than 2,600 years. The necklaces represent a significant cultural tradition which is still practised by <a href=\"/wiki/Tasmanian_Aboriginal\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Tasmanian Aboriginal\">Palawa</a> women elders. The shells used include pearly green and blue-green maireener (rainbow kelp) shells, brown and white rice shells, black cats' teeth shells and pink button shells.<sup id=\"cite_ref-10\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-10\">&#91;10&#93;</a></sup></li>\n<li>Naturally-occurring, beachworn, <a href=\"/wiki/Cone_shell\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Cone shell\">cone shell</a> \"tops\" (the broken-off spire of the shell, which often has a hole worn at the tip) can function as beads without any further modification. In <a href=\"/wiki/Hawaii\" title=\"Hawaii\">Hawaii</a> these natural beads were traditionally collected from the beach drift in order to make <a href=\"/wiki/Puka_shell\" title=\"Puka shell\">puka shell</a> jewelry. Since it is hard to obtain large quantities of naturally-occurring beachworn cone tops, almost all modern puka <a href=\"/wiki/Shell_jewelry\" title=\"Shell jewelry\">shell jewelry</a> uses cheaper imitations, cut from thin shells of other species of mollusk, or even made of plastic.</li>\n<li>Shells historically have been and still are made into, or incorporated into, necklaces, pendants, beads, earrings, <a href=\"/wiki/Button_(clothing)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Button (clothing)\">buttons</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Brooch\" title=\"Brooch\">brooches</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Ring_(finger)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Ring (finger)\">rings</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Comb\" title=\"Comb\">hair combs</a>, belt buckles and other uses.</li>\n<li>The shell of the large  \"bullmouth helmet\" sea snail, scientific name <i><a href=\"/wiki/Cypraecassis_rufa\" title=\"Cypraecassis rufa\">Cypraecassis rufa</a></i>, was historically, and still is, used to make valuable <a href=\"/wiki/Cameo_(carving)\" title=\"Cameo (carving)\">cameos</a>.</li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Nacre\" title=\"Nacre\">Mother of pearl</a> from many seashells including species in the family <a href=\"/wiki/Trochidae\" title=\"Trochidae\">Trochidae</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Turbinidae\" title=\"Turbinidae\">Turbinidae</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Haliotidae\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Haliotidae\">Haliotidae</a>, and various pearly bivalves, has often been used in jewelry, buttons, etc.</li>\n<li>In London, <a href=\"/wiki/Pearly_Kings_and_Queens\" title=\"Pearly Kings and Queens\">Pearly Kings and Queens</a> traditionally wear clothing covered in patterns made up of hundreds of \"pearl <a href=\"/wiki/Button_(clothing)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Button (clothing)\">buttons</a>\", in other words, buttons made of <a href=\"/wiki/Mother-of-pearl\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mother-of-pearl\">mother-of-pearl</a> or <a href=\"/wiki/Nacre\" title=\"Nacre\">nacre</a>. In recent years however, the majority of \"pearl buttons\" are imitations that are made of pearlescent plastic.</li></ul>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Creating_Crafts\">Creating Crafts</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=23\" title=\"Edit section: Creating Crafts\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Main article: <a href=\"/wiki/Sailor%27s_Valentines\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sailor&#39;s Valentines\">Sailor's Valentines</a></div>\n<p>\"<a href=\"/wiki/Sailor%27s_Valentines\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sailor&#39;s Valentines\">Sailor's Valentines</a>\" were late 19th-century decorative keepsakes which were made from the Caribbean, and which were often purchased by sailors to give to their loved ones back home for example in England. These valentines consisted of elaborate arrangements of small seashells glued into attractive symmetrical designs, which were encased on a wooden (usually octagonal) hinged box-frame. The patterns used often featured heart-shaped designs, or included a sentimental expression of love spelled out in small shells.\n</p><p>The making of shell work artifacts is a practice of <a href=\"/wiki/Indigenous_Australians\" title=\"Indigenous Australians\">Aboriginal women</a> from <a href=\"/wiki/La_Perouse,_New_South_Wales\" title=\"La Perouse, New South Wales\">La Perouse</a> in <a href=\"/wiki/Sydney\" title=\"Sydney\">Sydney</a>, dating back to the 19th century. Shell work objects include baby shoes, jewelry boxes and replicas of famous landmarks, including the <a href=\"/wiki/Sydney_Harbour_Bridge\" title=\"Sydney Harbour Bridge\">Sydney Harbour Bridge</a> and the <a href=\"/wiki/Sydney_Opera_House\" title=\"Sydney Opera House\">Sydney Opera House</a>. The shellwork tradition began as an Aboriginal women's craft which was adapted and tailored to suit the tourist souvenir market, and which is now considered high art.<sup id=\"cite_ref-11\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-11\">&#91;11&#93;</a></sup>\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Architectural_decoration\">Architectural decoration</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=24\" title=\"Edit section: Architectural decoration\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<p>Small pieces of colored and iridescent shell have been used to create <a href=\"/wiki/Mosaic\" title=\"Mosaic\">mosaics</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Inlay\" title=\"Inlay\">inlays</a>, which have been used to decorate walls, furniture and boxes. Large numbers of whole seashells, arranged to form patterns, have been used to decorate mirror frames, furniture and man-made <a href=\"/wiki/Shell_grotto\" title=\"Shell grotto\">shell grottos</a>.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Art\">Art</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=25\" title=\"Edit section: Art\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Akkulam_shanku.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Akkulam_shanku.jpg/220px-Akkulam_shanku.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Akkulam_shanku.jpg/330px-Akkulam_shanku.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Akkulam_shanku.jpg/440px-Akkulam_shanku.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1600\" data-file-height=\"1200\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Akkulam_shanku.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Enormous seashell sculpture at <a href=\"/wiki/Akkulam\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Akkulam\">Akkulam</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Thiruvananthapuram\" title=\"Thiruvananthapuram\">Thiruvananthapuram</a>, India</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:The_Scallop,_Maggi_Hambling,_Aldeburgh.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/The_Scallop%2C_Maggi_Hambling%2C_Aldeburgh.jpg/220px-The_Scallop%2C_Maggi_Hambling%2C_Aldeburgh.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"146\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/The_Scallop%2C_Maggi_Hambling%2C_Aldeburgh.jpg/330px-The_Scallop%2C_Maggi_Hambling%2C_Aldeburgh.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/The_Scallop%2C_Maggi_Hambling%2C_Aldeburgh.jpg/440px-The_Scallop%2C_Maggi_Hambling%2C_Aldeburgh.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1156\" data-file-height=\"768\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:The_Scallop,_Maggi_Hambling,_Aldeburgh.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Large sculpture of a <a href=\"/wiki/Scallop\" title=\"Scallop\">scallop</a> on the beach at <a href=\"/wiki/Aldeburgh\" title=\"Aldeburgh\">Aldeburgh</a>, by <a href=\"/wiki/Maggi_Hambling\" title=\"Maggi Hambling\">Maggi Hambling</a>, 2003</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg/220px-Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"313\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg/330px-Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg/440px-Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1575\" data-file-height=\"2240\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Aphrodite_Anadyomene_Louvre_CA2288.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div><a href=\"/wiki/Aphrodite\" title=\"Aphrodite\">Aphrodite</a>, 1st century BC, 13&#160;cm, 5&#160;in</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tleft\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg/220px-Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"172\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg/330px-Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg/440px-Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1000\" data-file-height=\"784\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Albertus_Seba_Muscheln.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Illustration from an 18th-century book, edited by <a href=\"/wiki/Albertus_Seba\" title=\"Albertus Seba\">Albertus Seba</a>. These decorative arrangements were a popular way to display seashells at the time</div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tleft\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/220px-Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"284\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/330px-Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/440px-Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"4336\" data-file-height=\"5591\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Hendrick_Goltzius_-_Portrait_of_the_Haarlem_Shell_Collector_Jan_Govertsen_van_der_Aer_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Portrait of the Shell Collector Jan Govertsen van der Aer, by <a href=\"/wiki/Hendrick_Goltzius\" title=\"Hendrick Goltzius\">Hendrick Goltzius</a> (1603)</div></div></div>\n<p>A very large outdoor sculpture at <a href=\"/wiki/Akkulam\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Akkulam\">Akkulam</a> of a gastropod seashell is a reference to the sacred chank shell <i><a href=\"/wiki/Turbinella_pyrum\" title=\"Turbinella pyrum\">Turbinella pyrum</a></i> of India. In 2003, <a href=\"/wiki/Maggi_Hambling\" title=\"Maggi Hambling\">Maggi Hambling</a> designed a striking 13&#160;ft (4 m) high sculpture of a <a href=\"/wiki/Scallop\" title=\"Scallop\">scallop</a> shell which stands on the beach at <a href=\"/wiki/Aldeburgh\" title=\"Aldeburgh\">Aldeburgh</a>, in England. The goddess of love, <a href=\"/wiki/Venus_(mythology)\" title=\"Venus (mythology)\">Venus</a> or <a href=\"/wiki/Aphrodite\" title=\"Aphrodite\">Aphrodite</a>, is often traditionally depicted rising from the sea on a seashell.  In <i><a href=\"/wiki/The_Birth_of_Venus_(Botticelli)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"The Birth of Venus (Botticelli)\">The Birth of Venus</a></i>, <a href=\"/wiki/Botticelli\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Botticelli\">Botticelli</a> depicted the goddess <a href=\"/wiki/Venus_(goddess)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Venus (goddess)\">Venus</a> rising from the ocean on a <a href=\"/wiki/Scallop\" title=\"Scallop\">scallop</a> shell.\n</p>\n<h4><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Poultry_feeds\">Poultry feeds</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=26\" title=\"Edit section: Poultry feeds\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h4>\n<p>Sea shells found in the creek and backwater of the coast of west India are used as an additive to poultry feed. They are crushed and mixed with jowar maize and dry fish.<sup class=\"noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact\" style=\"white-space:nowrap;\">&#91;<i><a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed\" title=\"Wikipedia:Citation needed\"><span title=\"This claim needs references to reliable sources. (February 2011)\">citation needed</span></a></i>&#93;</sup>\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Use\">Use</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=27\" title=\"Edit section: Use\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<p>Seashells, namely from bivalves<sup id=\"cite_ref-12\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-12\">&#91;12&#93;</a></sup> and gastropods, are fundamentally composed of calcium carbonate. In this sense, they have potential to be used as raw material in the production of <a href=\"/wiki/Lime_(material)\" title=\"Lime (material)\">lime</a>.\n</p><p><span class=\"anchor\" id=\"shellcrete\"></span> Along the <a href=\"/wiki/Gulf_Coast_of_the_United_States\" title=\"Gulf Coast of the United States\">Gulf Coast of the United States</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Oyster\" title=\"Oyster\">oyster</a> shells were mixed into <a href=\"/wiki/Cement\" title=\"Cement\">cement</a> to make \"shellcrete\" which could form bricks, blocks and platforms. It could also be applied over logs.<sup id=\"cite_ref-13\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-13\">&#91;13&#93;</a></sup> A notable example is the 19th-century <a href=\"/wiki/Sabine_Pass_Lighthouse\" title=\"Sabine Pass Lighthouse\">Sabine Pass Lighthouse</a> in Louisiana, near Texas.<sup id=\"cite_ref-14\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-14\">&#91;14&#93;</a></sup>\n</p>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Shells_of_other_marine_invertebrates\">Shells of other marine invertebrates</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=28\" title=\"Edit section: Shells of other marine invertebrates\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<table class=\"box-Unreferenced_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced\" role=\"presentation\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"mbox-image\"><div class=\"mbox-image-div\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg\" class=\"image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"50\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"512\" data-file-height=\"399\" /></a></div></td><td class=\"mbox-text\"><div class=\"mbox-text-span\">This section <b>does not <a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources\" title=\"Wikipedia:Citing sources\">cite</a> any <a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability\" title=\"Wikipedia:Verifiability\">sources</a></b>.<span class=\"hide-when-compact\"> Please help <a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit\">improve this section</a> by <a href=\"/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners\" title=\"Help:Referencing for beginners\">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and <a href=\"/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence\" title=\"Wikipedia:Verifiability\">removed</a>.</span>  <span class=\"date-container\"><i>(<span class=\"date\">December 2017</span>)</i></span><span class=\"hide-when-compact\"><i> (<small><a href=\"/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal\" title=\"Help:Maintenance template removal\">Learn how and when to remove this template message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Arthropods\">Arthropods</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=29\" title=\"Edit section: Arthropods\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg/220px-Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg/330px-Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg/440px-Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1424\" data-file-height=\"1068\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Crab_from_Long_Island.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>The moulted <a href=\"/wiki/Carapace\" title=\"Carapace\">carapace</a> of a <a href=\"/wiki/Lady_crab\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Lady crab\">lady crab</a> found on the beach at <a href=\"/wiki/Long_Beach,_New_York\" title=\"Long Beach, New York\">Long Beach, Long Island, New York State</a></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tleft\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg/220px-Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"149\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg/330px-Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg/440px-Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"800\" data-file-height=\"543\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Horseshoe_Crab_remains.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Shell of <a href=\"/wiki/Horseshoe_crab\" title=\"Horseshoe crab\">horseshoe crab</a> on a beach</div></div></div>\n<p>Many <a href=\"/wiki/Arthropod\" title=\"Arthropod\">arthropods</a> have <a href=\"/wiki/Sclerite\" title=\"Sclerite\">sclerites</a>, or hardened body parts, which form a stiff exoskeleton made up mostly of <a href=\"/wiki/Chitin\" title=\"Chitin\">chitin</a>.  In <a href=\"/wiki/Crustacean\" title=\"Crustacean\">crustaceans</a>, especially those of the class <a href=\"/wiki/Malacostraca\" title=\"Malacostraca\">Malacostraca</a> (crabs, shrimps and lobsters, for instance), the plates of the exoskeleton may be fused to form a more or less rigid <a href=\"/wiki/Carapace\" title=\"Carapace\">carapace</a>. Moulted carapaces of a variety of marine malacostraceans often wash up on beaches. The <a href=\"/wiki/Horseshoe_crab\" title=\"Horseshoe crab\">horseshoe crab</a> is an arthropod of the family <a href=\"/wiki/Limulidae\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Limulidae\">Limulidae</a>. The shells or <a href=\"/wiki/Exuviae\" title=\"Exuviae\">exuviae</a> of these arachnid relatives are common in beach drift in certain areas of the world.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Echinoderms\">Echinoderms</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=30\" title=\"Edit section: Echinoderms\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg/220px-Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg/330px-Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg/440px-Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"3648\" data-file-height=\"2736\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Sea_Urchin_test_5629_03_22.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div><a href=\"/wiki/Sea_urchin\" title=\"Sea urchin\">Sea urchin</a> test</div></div></div>\n<p>Some <a href=\"/wiki/Echinoderm\" title=\"Echinoderm\">echinoderms</a> such as <a href=\"/wiki/Sea_urchin\" title=\"Sea urchin\">sea urchins</a>, including <a href=\"/wiki/Heart_urchin\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Heart urchin\">heart urchins</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Sand_dollar\" title=\"Sand dollar\">sand dollars</a>, have a hard \"test\" or shell. After the animal dies, the flesh rots out and the spines fall off, and then fairly often the empty test washes up whole onto a beach, where it can be found by a beachcomber. These tests are fragile and easily broken into pieces.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Brachiopods\">Brachiopods</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=31\" title=\"Edit section: Brachiopods\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:LingulaanatinaAA.JPG\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/LingulaanatinaAA.JPG/220px-LingulaanatinaAA.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"99\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/LingulaanatinaAA.JPG/330px-LingulaanatinaAA.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/LingulaanatinaAA.JPG/440px-LingulaanatinaAA.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"3336\" data-file-height=\"1506\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:LingulaanatinaAA.JPG\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>A whole animal of the brachiopod <i><a href=\"/wiki/Lingula_anatina\" title=\"Lingula anatina\">Lingula anatina</a></i> from Australia with the shell showing on the left</div></div></div>\n<p>The <a href=\"/wiki/Brachiopod\" title=\"Brachiopod\">brachiopods</a>, or lamp shells, superficially resemble clams, but the phylum is not closely related to mollusks. Most lines of brachiopods ended during the <a href=\"/wiki/Permian-Triassic_extinction_event\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Permian-Triassic extinction event\">Permian-Triassic extinction event</a>, and their ecological niche was filled by bivalves. A few of the remaining species of brachiopods occur in the low <a href=\"/wiki/Intertidal_zone\" title=\"Intertidal zone\">intertidal zone</a> and thus can be found live by beachcombers.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Annelids\">Annelids</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=32\" title=\"Edit section: Annelids\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<p>Some <a href=\"/wiki/Polychaetes\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Polychaetes\">polychaetes</a>, marine annelid worms in the family <a href=\"/wiki/Serpulidae\" title=\"Serpulidae\">Serpulidae</a>, secrete a hard tube made of calcium carbonate, adhering to stones or other shells. This tube resembles, and can be confused with, the shell of marine gastropod mollusks in the family <a href=\"/wiki/Vermetidae\" title=\"Vermetidae\">Vermetidae</a>, the worm snails.\n</p>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Other_more_atypical_kinds\">Other more atypical kinds</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=33\" title=\"Edit section: Other more atypical kinds\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<p>A few other categories of marine animals leave remains which might be considered \"seashells\" in the widest possible sense of the word.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Chelonians\">Chelonians</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=34\" title=\"Edit section: Chelonians\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<p><a href=\"/wiki/Sea_turtle\" title=\"Sea turtle\">Sea turtles</a> have a <a href=\"/wiki/Carapace\" title=\"Carapace\">carapace</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Plastron\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Plastron\">plastron</a> of bone and <a href=\"/wiki/Cartilage\" title=\"Cartilage\">cartilage</a> which is developed from their <a href=\"/wiki/Rib\" title=\"Rib\">ribs</a>. Infrequently a turtle \"shell\" will wash up on a beach.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Hard_corals\">Hard corals</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=35\" title=\"Edit section: Hard corals\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG/220px-Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"165\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG/330px-Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG/440px-Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG 2x\" data-file-width=\"3264\" data-file-height=\"2448\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Shells_stones_and_other_curios.JPG\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Dish with beachworn coral pieces, marine gastropod shells, and echinoderm tests, from the Caribbean and the Mediterranean</div></div></div>\n<p>Pieces of the hard skeleton of <a href=\"/wiki/Coral\" title=\"Coral\">corals</a> commonly wash up on beaches in areas where corals grow.\n</p><p>The construction of the shell-like structures of corals are aided by a <a href=\"/wiki/Symbiotic\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Symbiotic\">symbiotic</a> relationship with a class of <a href=\"/wiki/Algae\" title=\"Algae\">algae</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Zooxanthella\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Zooxanthella\">zooxanthellae</a>. Typically a coral polyp will harbor particular species of algae, which will <a href=\"/wiki/Photosynthesis\" title=\"Photosynthesis\">photosynthesise</a> and thereby provide energy for the coral and aid in calcification,<sup id=\"cite_ref-MilneBay_15-0\" class=\"reference\"><a href=\"#cite_note-MilneBay-15\">&#91;15&#93;</a></sup> while living in a safe environment and using the carbon dioxide and nitrogenous waste produced by the polyp.  <a href=\"/wiki/Coral_bleaching\" title=\"Coral bleaching\">Coral bleaching</a> is a disruption of the balance between polyps and algae, and can lead to the breakdown and death of coral reefs.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Soft_corals\">Soft corals</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=36\" title=\"Edit section: Soft corals\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:1-Gorgone.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/1-Gorgone.jpg/220px-1-Gorgone.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"150\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/1-Gorgone.jpg/330px-1-Gorgone.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/1-Gorgone.jpg/440px-1-Gorgone.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1316\" data-file-height=\"900\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:1-Gorgone.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>An x-ray photograph of a <a href=\"/wiki/Gorgonian\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Gorgonian\">gorgonian</a></div></div></div>\n<p>The skeletons of soft corals such as <a href=\"/wiki/Gorgonian\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Gorgonian\">gorgonians</a>, also known as <a href=\"/wiki/Sea_fan\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sea fan\">sea fans</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Sea_whip\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Sea whip\">sea whips</a>, commonly wash ashore in the <a href=\"/wiki/Tropics\" title=\"Tropics\">tropics</a> after storms.\n</p>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Plankton_and_protists\">Plankton and protists</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=37\" title=\"Edit section: Plankton and protists\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n<div role=\"note\" class=\"hatnote navigation-not-searchable\">Further information: <a href=\"/wiki/Protist_shells\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Protist shells\">Protist shells</a></div>\n<div class=\"thumb tright\"><div class=\"thumbinner\" style=\"width:222px;\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg\" class=\"image\"><img src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg/220px-Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"220\" height=\"145\" class=\"thumbimage\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg/330px-Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg/440px-Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg 2x\" data-file-width=\"1796\" data-file-height=\"1180\" /></a>  <div class=\"thumbcaption\"><div class=\"magnify\"><a href=\"/wiki/File:Diatoms_through_the_microscope.jpg\" class=\"internal\" title=\"Enlarge\"></a></div>Marine <a href=\"/wiki/Diatom\" title=\"Diatom\">diatoms</a> form hard silicate shells</div></div></div>\n<p>Plant-like <a href=\"/wiki/Diatom\" title=\"Diatom\">diatoms</a> and animal-like <a href=\"/wiki/Radiolarian\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Radiolarian\">radiolarians</a> are two forms of <a href=\"/wiki/Plankton\" title=\"Plankton\">plankton</a> which form hard <a href=\"/wiki/Silica\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Silica\">silicate</a> shells. <a href=\"/wiki/Foraminifera\" title=\"Foraminifera\">Foraminifera</a> and <a href=\"/wiki/Coccolithophore\" title=\"Coccolithophore\">coccolithophores</a> create shells known as \"<a href=\"/wiki/Test_(biology)\" title=\"Test (biology)\">tests</a>\" which are made of calcium carbonate. These shells and tests are usually microscopic in size, though in the case of foraminifera, they are sometimes visible to the naked eye, often resembling miniature mollusk shells.\n</p>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"See_also\">See also</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=38\" title=\"Edit section: See also\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<ul><li><a href=\"/wiki/Bailey-Matthews_Shell_Museum\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum\">Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Marine_biogenic_calcification\" title=\"Marine biogenic calcification\">Marine biogenic calcification</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Mollusk_shell\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Mollusk shell\">Mollusk shell</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Ocean_acidification\" title=\"Ocean acidification\">Ocean acidification</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Seashell_resonance\" title=\"Seashell resonance\">Seashell resonance</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Seashell_surface\" title=\"Seashell surface\">Seashell surface</a>, a mathematical construct</li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Shell_growth_in_estuaries\" title=\"Shell growth in estuaries\">Shell growth in estuaries</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Shell_purse\" title=\"Shell purse\">Shell purse</a></li>\n<li><a href=\"/wiki/Small_shelly_fauna\" title=\"Small shelly fauna\">Small shelly fauna</a></li></ul>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"References\">References</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=39\" title=\"Edit section: References\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Citations\">Citations</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=40\" title=\"Edit section: Citations\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n</style><div class=\"reflist\">\n<div class=\"mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns\"><ol class=\"references\">\n<li id=\"cite_note-1\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-1\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"></style><cite class=\"citation web cs1\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/07/wildlife-watch-seashells-illegal-trade-handicrafts/\">\"Seashell Souvenirs Are Killing Protected Marine Life\"</a>. <i>Animals</i>. 16 July 2018<span class=\"reference-accessdate\">. Retrieved <span class=\"nowrap\">19 March</span> 2019</span>.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=Animals&amp;rft.atitle=Seashell+Souvenirs+Are+Killing+Protected+Marine+Life&amp;rft.date=2018-07-16&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalgeographic.com%2Fanimals%2F2018%2F07%2Fwildlife-watch-seashells-illegal-trade-handicrafts%2F&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-whoi-2\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\">^ <a href=\"#cite_ref-whoi_2-0\"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href=\"#cite_ref-whoi_2-1\"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href=\"#cite_ref-whoi_2-2\"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><cite class=\"citation web cs1\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/did-you-know/how-are-seashells-made/\">\"How are seashells made?\"</a>. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 2022<span class=\"reference-accessdate\">. Retrieved <span class=\"nowrap\">21 March</span> 2022</span>.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.btitle=How+are+seashells+made%3F&amp;rft.pub=Woods+Hole+Oceanographic+Institution&amp;rft.date=2022&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whoi.edu%2Fknow-your-ocean%2Fdid-you-know%2Fhow-are-seashells-made%2F&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-Poutiers-3\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-Poutiers_3-0\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><cite id=\"CITEREFPoutiers1998\" class=\"citation book cs1 cs1-prop-long-vol\">Poutiers, J. M. (1998). \"Gastropods\". <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/w7191e/w7191e44.pdf\"><i>FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes: The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific</i></a> <span class=\"cs1-format\">(PDF)</span>. Vol.&#160;1. Seaweeds, corals, bivalves and gastropods. Rome: FAO. p.&#160;503.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=bookitem&amp;rft.atitle=Gastropods&amp;rft.btitle=FAO+Species+Identification+Guide+for+Fishery+Purposes%3A+The+living+marine+resources+of+the+Western+Central+Pacific&amp;rft.place=Rome&amp;rft.pages=503&amp;rft.pub=FAO&amp;rft.date=1998&amp;rft.aulast=Poutiers&amp;rft.aufirst=J.+M.&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fao.org%2Fdocrep%2F009%2Fw7191e%2Fw7191e44.pdf&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-4\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-4\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\">Hogendorn, Jan and Johnson Marion: The Shell Money of the Slave Trade. African Studies Series 49, <a href=\"/wiki/Cambridge_University_Press\" title=\"Cambridge University Press\">Cambridge University Press</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/Cambridge\" title=\"Cambridge\">Cambridge</a>, 1986.</span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-5\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-5\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><a href=\"/wiki/John_C._Ewers\" title=\"John C. Ewers\">Ewers, John C.</a> \"<a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/BAE/Bulletin164/section2.htm#Shell%20hp\">Hair Pipes in Plains Indian Adornment</a>\", <i>Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 164</i>, pp. 29\u201385.  United States Government Printing Office, Washington&#160;: 1957.</span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-6\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-6\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><cite id=\"CITEREFRaichlen\" class=\"citation web cs1\">Raichlen, Steven. <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1990-11-04-1990308108-story.html\">\"The venerable scallop's versatility makes it a rare culinary blessing\"</a>. <i>baltimoresun.com</i><span class=\"reference-accessdate\">. Retrieved <span class=\"nowrap\">12 November</span> 2020</span>.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=baltimoresun.com&amp;rft.atitle=The+venerable+scallop%27s+versatility+makes+it+a+rare+culinary+blessing&amp;rft.aulast=Raichlen&amp;rft.aufirst=Steven&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.baltimoresun.com%2Fnews%2Fbs-xpm-1990-11-04-1990308108-story.html&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-7\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-7\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\">Berrin, Katherine &amp; Larco Museum. <i>The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the <a href=\"/wiki/Larco_Museum\" title=\"Larco Museum\">Museo Arqueol\u00f3gico Rafael Larco Herrera</a>.</i> New York: <a href=\"/wiki/Thames_and_Hudson\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Thames and Hudson\">Thames and Hudson</a>, 1997.</span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-8\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-8\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\">The Legend of the Sand Dollar</span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-Clark-9\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\">^ <a href=\"#cite_ref-Clark_9-0\"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href=\"#cite_ref-Clark_9-1\"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><cite id=\"CITEREFClark,_Mitchell1996\" class=\"citation web cs1\">Clark, Mitchell (1996). <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http://www.furious.com/perfect/shells.html\">\"Some Basics on Shell Trumpets and some very Basics on how to make them\"</a>. furious.com. <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20131021010404/http://www.furious.com/perfect/shells.html\">Archived</a> from the original on 21 October 2013<span class=\"reference-accessdate\">. Retrieved <span class=\"nowrap\">24 July</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.btitle=Some+Basics+on+Shell+Trumpets+and+some+very+Basics+on+how+to+make+them&amp;rft.pub=furious.com&amp;rft.date=1996&amp;rft.au=Clark%2C+Mitchell&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.furious.com%2Fperfect%2Fshells.html&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-10\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-10\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http://www.nma.gov.au/collections/dulcie_greeno_necklaces\">Tasmanian Aboriginal shell necklaces</a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20110612010907/http://www.nma.gov.au/collections/dulcie_greeno_necklaces/\">Archived</a> 12 June 2011 at the <a href=\"/wiki/Wayback_Machine\" title=\"Wayback Machine\">Wayback Machine</a>, <a href=\"/wiki/National_Museum_of_Australia\" title=\"National Museum of Australia\">National Museum of Australia</a>.</span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-11\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-11\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><cite class=\"citation web cs1\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/collection/highlights/shellwork-sydney-harbour-bridge\">\"Shellwork Sydney Harbour Bridge\"</a>. <i>National Museum of Australia Collections</i>. <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20190130215018/https://www.nma.gov.au/explore/collection/highlights/shellwork-sydney-harbour-bridge\">Archived</a> from the original on 30 January 2019.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.jtitle=National+Museum+of+Australia+Collections&amp;rft.atitle=Shellwork+Sydney+Harbour+Bridge&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nma.gov.au%2Fexplore%2Fcollection%2Fhighlights%2Fshellwork-sydney-harbour-bridge&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-12\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-12\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><cite id=\"CITEREFFerrazGamelasCoroadoMonteiro2019\" class=\"citation journal cs1\">Ferraz, Eduardo; Gamelas, Jos\u00e9 A. F.; Coroado, Jo\u00e3o; Monteiro, Carlos; Rocha, Fernando (12 July 2019). \"Recycling Waste Seashells to Produce Calcitic Lime: Characterization and Wet Slaking Reactivity\". <i>Waste and Biomass Valorization</i>. <b>10</b>: 2397\u20132414. <a href=\"/wiki/Doi_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Doi (identifier)\">doi</a>:<a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs12649-018-0232-y\">10.1007/s12649-018-0232-y</a>. <a href=\"/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"ISSN (identifier)\">ISSN</a>&#160;<a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1877-2641\">1877-2641</a>.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&amp;rft.genre=article&amp;rft.jtitle=Waste+and+Biomass+Valorization&amp;rft.atitle=Recycling+Waste+Seashells+to+Produce+Calcitic+Lime%3A+Characterization+and+Wet+Slaking+Reactivity&amp;rft.volume=10&amp;rft.pages=2397-2414&amp;rft.date=2019-07-12&amp;rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1007%2Fs12649-018-0232-y&amp;rft.issn=1877-2641&amp;rft.aulast=Ferraz&amp;rft.aufirst=Eduardo&amp;rft.au=Gamelas%2C+Jos%C3%A9+A.+F.&amp;rft.au=Coroado%2C+Jo%C3%A3o&amp;rft.au=Monteiro%2C+Carlos&amp;rft.au=Rocha%2C+Fernando&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-13\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-13\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><cite class=\"citation book cs1\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://books.google.com/books?id=_aYaAQAAMAAJ\"><i>Preservation News</i></a>. National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States. 1985. p.&#160;94. <q>Brittle buildings made of \"shellcrete,\" a seashell-cement mix applied over logs, are risky to move.</q></cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=Preservation+News&amp;rft.pages=94&amp;rft.pub=National+Trust+for+Historic+Preservation+in+the+United+States.&amp;rft.date=1985&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D_aYaAQAAMAAJ&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-14\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-14\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\"><cite id=\"CITEREFTunnell2010\" class=\"citation book cs1\">Tunnell, John Wesley (2010). <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://books.google.com/books?id=PIkC-rU2NkoC&amp;pg=PA17\"><i>Encyclopedia of Texas Seashells</i></a>. Texas A&amp;M U. Press. pp.&#160;17\u201319. <a href=\"/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"ISBN (identifier)\">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href=\"/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-60344-337-1\" title=\"Special:BookSources/978-1-60344-337-1\"><bdi>978-1-60344-337-1</bdi></a>. <q>Many impressive old homes and public buildings, as well as more mundane structures such as cisterns and curbs, were constructed of shellcrete bricks in Corpus Christi, Galveston, and other cities along the coast. However, very few exist today.</q></cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=book&amp;rft.btitle=Encyclopedia+of+Texas+Seashells&amp;rft.pages=17-19&amp;rft.pub=Texas+A%26M+U.+Press&amp;rft.date=2010&amp;rft.isbn=978-1-60344-337-1&amp;rft.aulast=Tunnell&amp;rft.aufirst=John+Wesley&amp;rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DPIkC-rU2NkoC%26pg%3DPA17&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n<li id=\"cite_note-MilneBay-15\"><span class=\"mw-cite-backlink\"><b><a href=\"#cite_ref-MilneBay_15-0\">^</a></b></span> <span class=\"reference-text\">\n<cite id=\"CITEREFMadl,_P.Yip,_M.2000\" class=\"citation web cs1\">Madl, P. &amp; Yip, M. (2000). <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http://biophysics.sbg.ac.at/png/png3.htm\">\"Field Excursion to Milne Bay Province - Papua New Guinea\"</a>. <a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20120128205517/http://biophysics.sbg.ac.at/png/png3.htm\">Archived</a> from the original on 28 January 2012<span class=\"reference-accessdate\">. Retrieved <span class=\"nowrap\">31 March</span> 2006</span>.</cite><span title=\"ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&amp;rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&amp;rft.genre=unknown&amp;rft.btitle=Field+Excursion+to+Milne+Bay+Province+-+Papua+New+Guinea&amp;rft.date=2000&amp;rft.au=Madl%2C+P.&amp;rft.au=Yip%2C+M.&amp;rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbiophysics.sbg.ac.at%2Fpng%2Fpng3.htm&amp;rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ASeashell\" class=\"Z3988\"></span></span>\n</li>\n</ol></div></div>\n<h3><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"Sources\">Sources</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=41\" title=\"Edit section: Sources\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h3>\n</style><div class=\"refbegin\" style=\"\">\n<dl><dt>Books</dt></dl>\n<ul><li>Abbott R. Tucker &amp; S. Peter Dance, 1982, <i>Compendium of Seashells, A full color guide to more than 4,200 of the World's Marine shells</i>, E.P. Dutton, Inc, New York, <a href=\"/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"ISBN (identifier)\">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href=\"/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-525-93269-0\" title=\"Special:BookSources/0-525-93269-0\">0-525-93269-0</a>.</li>\n<li>Abbott R. Tucker, 1985, <i>Seashells of the World: a guide to the better-known species</i>, 1985, Golden Press, New York,  <a href=\"/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"ISBN (identifier)\">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href=\"/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-307-24410-5\" title=\"Special:BookSources/0-307-24410-5\">0-307-24410-5</a>.</li>\n<li>Abbott, R. Tucker, 1986, <i>Seashells of North America</i>, St. Martin's Press, New York, <a href=\"/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"ISBN (identifier)\">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href=\"/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-58238-125-9\" title=\"Special:BookSources/1-58238-125-9\">1-58238-125-9</a>.</li>\n<li>Abbott, R. Tucker, 1974, <i>American Seashells</i>, Second edition, Van Nostrand Rheinhold, New York, <a href=\"/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"ISBN (identifier)\">ISBN</a>&#160;<a href=\"/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-442-20228-8\" title=\"Special:BookSources/0-442-20228-8\">0-442-20228-8</a>.</li></ul>\n</div>\n<h2><span class=\"mw-headline\" id=\"External_links\">External links</span><span class=\"mw-editsection\"><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">[</span><a href=\"/w/index.php?title=Seashell&amp;action=edit&amp;section=42\" title=\"Edit section: External links\">edit</a><span class=\"mw-editsection-bracket\">]</span></span></h2>\n</style><div class=\"side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox\"><div class=\"side-box-flex\">\n<div class=\"side-box-image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" class=\"noviewer\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/60px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/80px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"512\" data-file-height=\"512\" /></div>\n<div class=\"side-box-text plainlist\">Look up <i><b><a href=\"https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/seashell\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"wiktionary:seashell\">seashell</a></b></i> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.</div></div>\n</div><div class=\"side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox\"><div class=\"side-box-flex\">\n<div class=\"side-box-image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"30\" height=\"40\" class=\"noviewer\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/45px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/59px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"1024\" data-file-height=\"1376\" /></div>\n<div class=\"side-box-text plainlist\">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style=\"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;\"><a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Seashells\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"commons:Category:Seashells\">Seashells</a></span>.</div></div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox\"><div class=\"side-box-flex\">\n<div class=\"side-box-image\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"34\" height=\"40\" class=\"noviewer\" srcset=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/51px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/68px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png 2x\" data-file-width=\"300\" data-file-height=\"355\" /></div>\n<div class=\"side-box-text plainlist\">Wikiquote has quotations related to <i><b><a href=\"https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Seashell\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"q:Special:Search/Seashell\">Seashell</a></b></i>.</div></div>\n</div>\n<ul><li><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https://research.fit.edu/shells/\">Hohlman Shell Collection, Florida Institute of Technology</a></li></ul></div>"
}