Seashells

ANOMIIDAE (Jingle Shells)
These bivalves attach themselves to hard objects, usually rocks, sometimes other shells, by means of threads (byssus) that extend from a hole in the... 

ARCIDAE (Ark Cockles)
Ark cockles (Ark Shells) are both marine and estuarine, preferring estuarine tidal flats and seagrass beds. They range from Fraser Island on the... 

BATILLARIIDAE (Mud Creepers and Whelks)
Pyrazus ebeninus (Club or Mud Whelk) ranges from northern Queensland to Lakes Entrance, Victoria. Found in large numbers on muddy estuarine flats. 

BULLIDAE (Bubble Shells)
Bulla is a genus of gastropod molluscs, the only member of the family Bullidae which is the only member of the superfamily Bulloidea. The genus... 

CARDIIDAE (Heart Cockles)
Cardiidae are one of the largest and best-known bivalve families with over 200 living species and many more fossil forms. Characterised by... 

CASSIDAE (Helmets and Bonnets)
Cassidae are large or medium size shells characterised by a thickened and recurved outer lip forming a prominent helmet-like rim. There are eighty... 

CEPHALAPODA (Octopuses, squid, cuttlefish, nautiluses)
The cephalopods (Greek meaning "head-foot") are molluscs characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a modification of the... 

CUCULAEIDAE (Ark Shells)
The cephalopods (Greek meaning "head-foot") are molluscs characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a modification of the 

CYPRAEIDAE (Cowries)
Deeply polished, attractive shells, much collected. In life, two lobes of the animal's mantle extend out and over the shell, meeting at midline,... 

DONACIDAE (Wedge Shells)
Donax deltoides is the local edible food and bait pipi of the Queensland and NSW beaches, adults reach lengths of 60 mm. The shell is strong,... 

ECHINODERMS
Not a shell at all, in fact an entirely separate phylum of animals, though their skeletons are collected among shells when washed up on beaches. 

FASCIOLARIIDAE (Spindles)
Spindles are carnivorous, usually feeding on bivalves and other snails. They are characterised by a long, slender anterior canal.  

GLYCYMERIDIDAE (Bittersweet Clams)
Glycymeridae have thick, compressed shells more or less circular and symmetrical. They have an arched hinge with teeth, similar to Ark shells.  

JANTHINIDAE (Violet Sea Snails)
Glycymeridae have thick, compressed shells more or less circular and symmetrical. They have an arched hinge with teeth, similar to Ark shells.  

LITTORINIDAE (Periwinkles, Conniwinks and Clusterwinks)
Littorinid molluscs colonise the upper limits of the littoral zone. They can survive very long time out of the water in a very wide range of... 

MACTRIDAE (Mactras)
Mactridae, also known as surf or trough shells or duck clams, is a family of marine bivalve clams of the order Veneroida. Moderately thick,... 

MURICIDAE (Rock Shells)
Thais orbita, Cart Rut, or White Rock Shell, is a gastropod endemic to southern Australia and the North Island of New Zealand. It is found... 

NATICIDAE (Moon Snails)
The sand snails are common in intertidal sand and mud flats, where they plough through the sand or mud, on or just below the surface, leaving a broad... 

NERITIDAE (Nerites)
Black outside, pellucid blue-white inside. Mouth opening is a half-circle. Ranges from the littoral fringe down to low tide extremes. Nerita ca... 

PATELLIDAE (Limpets)
Most true limpets live intertidally or in the shallow subtidal, down to the depth light penetration allows the micro-algal growth upon which they... 

PECTINIDAE (Scallops)
Scallops are bivalve molluscs with a central adductor muscle, larger and more developed than that of oysters because they are active swimmers. 

PINNIDAE (Razor Clams)
Razor clams are slender, fragile, brittle shells buried in mud with the pointed end anchored by a tuft of fine fibers (byssal threads).  

PTERIIDAE (Pearl and Wing Oysters)
Pteriidae include the pearl oysters, genus Pinctada, and the winged oysters, genus Pteria. They have mother of pearl interiors, some produce pearls... 

RANELLIDAE (Tritons)
Tritons are variable in size and solidly constructed, often heavily ornamented. The name triton refers to the widely flared lip and opening (like a... 

STROMBIDAE (Strombs)
The family Strombidae includes the true conchs, tibias, and their allies. Most are extinct. Of the living strombids, most occur in the Indo-Pacific... 

THAIDIDAE (Drupes)
These animals feed upon other mollusks by drilling with the radula and secreting acid to burn through the shell, leaving a small round hole as... 

TONNIDAE (Tun Shells)
The family Tonnidae includes a small number of species with medium-sized to large shells thin for their size and nearly spherical. The spire is... 

TROCHIDAE (Top Shells)
Trochus is a genus of gastropod molluscs of the family Trochidae. They are medium sized shells, with a conical spire and a flat base. Trochus... 

TURBINIDAE (Turbans)
This highly polished Turban is showing a yellow interior. They are found in intertidal and shallow reef areas at depths to about 20 metres. Turban... 

VENERIDAE Venus Clams
VENERIDAE are porcelain-like shells with a complex tooth structure in the hinge. Some exhibit strong colors and patterns, while others are less... 

VOLUTIIDAE (Volutes)
Shell solid, spire very short, glazed. Spire whorls smooth or with axial ribs that may extend to the ventral side of the body whorl. Remainder of...