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When 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.
1742 drawing of shells of the money cowrie, Monetaria moneta Cowrie shells The shells of cowries are usually smooth and shiny and more or less egg-shaped. The round side of the shell is called the Dorsal Face, whereas the flat under side is called the Ventral Face, which shows a long, narrow, slit-like opening (), which is often toothed at the edges.
Wentletrap shells have a roundish or oval aperture, but its inner lip is often reduced to strip of callus. The round and horny operculum is paucispiral and fits the aperture tightly. Most of the species in the family are small to minute, although some are larger, and overall the adult shell length in the family varies between 0.6 and 11.7 cm. [ 4 ]
As Joseph Rosewater [1] commented in 1961: "“The Pinnidae have considerable economic importance in many parts of the world. They produce pearls of moderate value. In the Mediterranean area, material made from the holdfast or byssus of Pinna nobilis Linné has been utilized in the manufacture of clothing for many centuries: gloves, shawls, stockings and cloaks.
Mollusc shells (especially those formed by marine species) are very durable and outlast the otherwise soft-bodied animals that produce them by a very long time (sometimes thousands of years even without being fossilized). Most shells of marine molluscs fossilize rather easily, and fossil mollusc shells date all the way back to the Cambrian period.
The Scotch bonnet (Semicassis granulata) is a medium-sized to large species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the subfamily Cassinae, the helmet shells and bonnet shells. The common name "Scotch bonnet" alludes to the general outline and color pattern of the shell, which vaguely resemble a tam o' shanter , a traditional Scottish ...
An account of some of the marine shells of the United States. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 2: 221-248, 257-276, 302-325. Reeve, L. 1850. Monograph of the genus Fissurella. Conchologia Iconica 6: pls. 9-16; Turgeon, D.D., et al. 1998. Common and scientific names of aquatic invertebrates of the United States and Canada.
Conch shells are used as biologically grown calcium carbonate fertilizer. [17] [18] Conch shells are sometimes used as decoration, as decorative planters, and in cameo making. [19] [20] In the Aztec culture, the conch played an important role in rituals, war, art, music, mythology, festivals, and even the calendar. [21]