• Macrocypraea cervus (Linnaeus, 1771) Atlantic Deer Cowrie
  • Macrocypraea cervus (Linnaeus, 1771) Atlantic Deer Cowrie
  • Scaphella junonia
  • Scaphella junonia
  • Alphabet Cone
    Conus spurius Generally found on sandy bottoms. Also called Chinese alphabet cone. Up to 3.5"
  • King's Crown
    Melongena corona Usually found among the mangroves and oyster beds. Up to 4" in size. Tends to be more of a bay shell because of its habitat. This is not usually a shell to be found along the beach unless you are near a pass of other area where oyster bars and mangroves are near. Color form and spine structure can vary greatly from one area to the next.
  • King's Crown
    Melongena corona Usually found among the mangroves and oyster beds. Up to 4" in size. Tends to be more of a bay shell because of its habitat. This is not usually a shell to be found along the beach unless you are near a pass of other area where oyster bars and mangroves are near. Color form and spine structure can vary greatly from one area to the next.
  • Shark Eye or Moon snail
    Polinices duplicatus Found along sand bottoms. Generally easy to find. Up to 2"
  • Lettered Olive
    Oliva sayana Commonly found along the West Coast Florida. If found live or fresh dead the shell can have a great shiny luster. This often fades as the shell is beat up by the surf coming to shore. Up to 3"
  • Fighting Conch
    Fasciolaria hunteria Common in shallow grassy bays. Harder to find along the beach as it likes the grass flats that are in the bay. Up to 3"
  • Fighting Conch
    Fasciolaria hunteria Common in shallow grassy bays. Harder to find along the beach as it likes the grass flats that are in the bay. Up to 3"
  • Sozon's Cone
    Conus delessertii found in deeper waters, varies in shade Up to 3"
  • Lace Murex
    Chicoreus dilectus Can be found ranging in color from Black to brown to orange to white. Along the beaches. Up to 2.5"
  • Lace Murex
    Chicoreus dilectus Can be found ranging in color from Black to brown to orange to white. Along the beaches. Up to 2.5"
  • Lightning Whelk
    Busycon contrarium One of the few left handed seashells. Up to 15"
  • Lightning Whelk "Rare Albino"
    Busycon contrarium One of the few left handed seashells. Up to 15"

Shells from Florida's Gulf of Mexico

Most of these shells where collected over the years on Siesta Key's Point of Rocks while snorkeling.
Deer Cowries are rather rare, Lace Murex, and very rare Scaphella junonia!

Comments and faves

  1. sapphire_pdx, Two Sexy SeaChels, vfdrew2, baineskatie, and 19 other people added this photo to their favorites.

  2. tanetahi (25 months ago | reply)

    All beautiful and good to know they are local and personally collected.

  3. Tropic~7 (25 months ago | reply)


    Having grown up on Siesta Key, I was always in the water!
    All collected with no animals inside, but found before the hit the surf.

  4. callenstewart (25 months ago | reply)

    WOW. Quite the collection!

  5. Tropic~7 (25 months ago | reply)


    Thanks Chris, a friend of mine inspired me to share them on flicker!

  6. Cebu-Man (25 months ago | reply)

    Thats right....nice to see your collection. Thanks.

  7. jennyw47 (25 months ago | reply)

    love your collection...I have all these ones too and am shell mad.

  8. lisadav@ymail.com (23 months ago | reply)

    Does anyone know what the name of the large spotted one is in the upper right corner?

  9. callenstewart (23 months ago | reply)

    It looks like a cowrie of some type.

  10. Tropic~7 (23 months ago | reply)

    LisaDav, I've gone in and added notes to each of the shells I could name.
    Hope this helps!

  11. Serena Rebechi (9 months ago | reply)

    composizione ben fatta e bello anche lo sfondo

  12. trippyglitters (9 months ago | reply)

    Lovely collection of seashells :)

  13. Roger Cummiskey (7 months ago | reply)

    attractive selection.

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