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Nautilus.gif?282 (7761 bytes)

Many shells are washed up on our beaches and the range of shells are seasonal. One of the best places to find them is at Grassy Head. Live Molluscs [shells] are also found on the beach and in the rock pools please look at them. Then return them to the beach or pool from where they were found, this way we will provide for survival of future Molluscs [shells].

In some cases the tide and current wash shells onto the beach especially with Ocean Pelagices. The nautilus is rarely found at Grassy Head but occasionally one is washed up, after storms is always a good time to find shells on the beach.


Shell Identification some common Shells

The Pipi is a common shell on the beach and can often be seen at the turn of the tide.

Pipi (28141 bytes)

Cockle (4630 bytes)Volute (3827 bytes)
Cowrie, Striped [Volute] (3047 bytes)Cowrie, Eroded  (4053 bytes)
Cowrie, Money  (3245 bytes)Cowrie, Snake[Serpent]-head  (4439 bytes)
Limpet (4195 bytes)Muscle (5205 bytes)
Abalone (4865 bytes)Moon Shell (2602 bytes)
Tubo Shell (6349 bytes)Helmet, Checker or draught board  (4151 bytes)
Spirula (1831 bytes)Large Violet Snail (2634 bytes)
Nautilus (4715 bytes)

Shell list by Common Name

On the Holiday Coast we have a large and diverse range of Molluscs[Shells]. This list is by no means complete their are many more Molluscs.

Common NameScientific NameLikely to be found
Molluscs  
AbaloneHaliotis coccoradiataCommon
Buccinid whelkPenion mandarinusInfrequent
[deep water ]
Coat of Mail ShellChiton glaucus Common
CockleKatelysia Common
CowrieCypraea piperitaRare
Cowrie, Eroded Cypraea erosa Common
Cowrie, Money Cypraea annulusRare
Cowrie, Snake
[Serpent]-head
Cypraea caputserpentisRare
Cowrie, Striped
[Volute]
Amoria zebraCommon
Elephant slugScutus antipodesInfrequent
Flag razor ShellAtrina vexillumCommon
Helmet, Angas's Phalium glabratum
angasi
Infrequent
Helmet  ShellPhalium areola
[no shoulder nodules]
Common
Helmet, Checker or
draught board
Phalium bandatumCommon
LimpetCellana tramosericaCommon
Moon ShellNeverita inceiCommon
MudwhelkPyrazus ebeninusCommon
MuscleMytilus edulisCommon
NeriteNerita atramentosaCommon
Pipi also known
 as Golwa Cockle or Ugari
Donax deltoidesCommon
Purple ShellDicathais orbitaCommon
ScallopPecten fumatus Common
Scallop, PricklyMimachlamys asperrima Common
Top ShellAustrocohlea constrictaInfrequent
Top ShellClanculus clangulusInfrequent
Tun ShellTonna cepaInfrequent
Turban Tubo petholatusInfrequent
VoluteCymbiolista hunteriInfrequent
Ocean PelagicsTrue Ocean Pelagics are Molluscs
that spend their whole lives
drifting in the ocean between
the surface and the sea floor
coming to rest on the bottom
only after death.
Infrequent, they sometimes
wash up on the beach.
Large Violet SnailJanthina JanthinaRare
Pearly nautilusNautilus PompiliusRare
Ram's horn shellSpirula SpirulaRare

Some Important Links are:

Australian Microshells Homepage
Australian museum online - malacology - Extensive Mollusc Websites
Conchologists of America -- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Georgia Shell Club Shell Pictures

Warren Walker wwalker@Bigfoot.com

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