An active shell often found at the surf line popping out of the sand when the tide begins to come in.
A group of shells from one of the beach areas, found in sand between shore and a sand bar at low tide.
More of the beach shells from the same area.
These shells are collected by wading from boats in shell beds far from the beach. The fishermen wear waders and bring up boxes full of shells for sale to locals as food. There are huge piles of empty shells near the beaches and occasionally you find live ones on the beach - possibly escapees.
A small specimen found "popping" out of the sand when the tide began coming in.
Any hard surface in a mud flat makes a mini-reef. These shells are living on a tire.
This cockle shell is found in sandy and muddy areas.
These active shells have a bright orange aperture.
Limpets are usually on rocks, where they can protect their soft parts, since the shell is open on the bottom. This species is found on the underside of rocks during the day.
Turridae are usually not gregarious, but this species is. We find it popping out of the sand when the tide starts to come in.
I found this species alive for the first time in 2004, in a sandy bay. It can reach ten inches in length.
A smaller specimen performed in the aquarium.
A common Muricid found under rocks.
This quarter-inch shell looks huge in the picture. It is a scavenger, keeping the bay clean by eating the garbage.
A very active snail that lives in sandy bays.
Common in sandy bays, where it eats bivalves. These animals make trails in the sand and are very active...
...in fact, so active I took lots of pictures of it.
Another active animal living in the intertidal sand.
These animals are shell-less molluscs. They come together from time to time to lay eggs. Each animal is both male and female (hermaphroditic) and they fertilize one another, then lay eggs. The slime they secrete to ease their movement through the mud also gathers mud so they are camouflaged.
Another species of shell-less mollusc. It looks just like the algae in the bay.
Related to the sea hares, these animals are too big for their shells. They also secrete lots of slime. The shell is very delicate and translucent.
Another sea hare-like animmal, this green slug has a small internal shell. Living, it looks like a piece of algae and is usually found on sea grasses.
"It's a cowry!"
Cowries are found under rocks. These came from intertidal rocks at low tide.
The living animal is even more spectacular than the shell, with its mantle very colorful and studded with papillae.
Found under rocks in an intertidal cove.
This active animal lives under rocks. The operculum is used in shellcraft. Villagers gather these shells for dinner.
This star shell was covered with algae and other growths, making it difficult to see in its rocky environment.
Here you can see the animal as it reaches out to right itself.
Another rock dweller (in fact, called a "Rock Shell").
Found in sandy and muddy areas, very common.
This animal drills a hole in other shells to get at the meat. It lives in sandy areas.
Living at the surf zone on beaches, this active animal can extend its foot quickly and far, in order to right itself when washed out of the sand. In fact, using its spread-out foot, it can actually swim.
Though it looks like a cone, this is a dove-shell that lives under intertidal rocks.
These active animals have, besides their eyestalks, several long tentacles which help them sense their surroundings.
Little of the animals of these shells is exposed. Their long, slender shells make easy movement through sand.
You can find these shells in any color of the rainbow and usually at least two colors. They live intertidally in large colonies, actively crawling about looking for food. Size is up to one-quarter inch or so.