How to Identify Florida Shells

Sea shells on Sanibel Island

Sanibel Island is a worldwide destination for shell lovers.The Bailey Matthews Shell Museum there can help you identify the shells you find on any of the barrier island beaches in southwest Florida or anywhere in the state. Consider chartering a shelling tour with an experienced guide to investigate some of the more remote locations. Online photography collections and shell collecting books are invaluable resources. Another place to learn about shells is one of the many clubs that cater to enthusiasts.

Instructions

Sanibel Island

1. 

   The Bailey Matthews Shell Museum collection

   Go to Sanibel Island for the best shelling Florida has to offer. This barrier island has an east-west orientation rather than a north-south configuration, and shellfish gather on the shallow ocean shelf that extends into the Gulf of Mexico. Both these factors contribute to the number and variety of seashells that wash up on the beach. Check the Bailey Matthews Shell Museum online photograph collection to identify your shells. The museum sponsors educational programs as well.

2. 

   Sanibel shells

   Charter a shelling cruise with an experienced tour guide. The shells on Sanibel are different than those you might find on neighboring Captiva Island, and even more so on Cayo Costa Island, which sees less human traffic. There are about 180 different types of shells on these barrier islands. The Fort Myers -- Sanibel website is another good source for identifying shells. Not all types of shells are available there. Amelia Island on Florida's east coast and Pensacola Beach on the Panhandle are also shelling destinations.

3. 

   Shells at low tide

   Get up early. The best time to find shells is early morning. However, there is a ban on taking any shell containing a live creature, including sand dollars and star fish. Lee County is the first to ban live shelling in Florida, but check the chamber of commerce of areas you visit because many other Florida counties are following suit.

4. 

   Lightening whelks

   Learn about the two basic shell types: single, spiral shells are called univalve; clam-like shells with a top and bottom half are called bivalve. Jingle shells are those translucent, pearly bivalve shells found just about anywhere. The crescent-shaped, univalve shell of the moon snail also is popular. Whelks are common to Florida, with the lightening whelk -- or left-handed whelk -- being an interesting find. North Florida is a good place to find them.

5. 

   Florida augers

   Check what time of year is best for shelling at the location you plan to visit. Early spring is prime time in southwest Florida. Storms start to brew in late spring, washing shells ashore on Florida's east coast. Hurricanes churn the waters from September through November, tossing shells any place along the coast. The best times to go are during a full moon or a new moon. You're more likely to find more delicate shells at low tide and larger shells at high tide, midway up the beach. No single beach has all the varieties of shells found in Florida. A good guide book with charts and diagrams will give you the details.

References

• Florida's Fabulous Seashells: And Other Seashore Life, Winston Williams, World Publishers, 2001
• Sanibel Island.com: Sanibel Island Shelling and Beaches
• The Beaches of Ft. Myers - Sanibel: The Art of Shelling
• Florida's Seashells: A Beachcomber's Guide, Blair Witherington and Dawn Witherington, Sarasota, Florida: Pineapple Press, 2007
• Places Around Florida.com: Panhandle Beaches
• The Bailey Matthews Shell Museum: Southwest Florida Shells

Resources

• Seashells.org: Identification
• Guide to Northeast Whelks
• The Bailey Matthews Shell Museum: Links