Collecting sea shells that have washed up on beaches is a favorite activity for many people in Florida. Tourists and locals enjoy keeping them as souvenirs or giving them as gifts. Florida has several kinds of shells on its shores that offer shell lovers the variety they need for their collections.
Famous the world over, the conch shell makes a great souvenir for several reasons. You can place the shell up to your ear and listen to sounds that resemble the ocean waves. The name comes from the Greek word meaning "shell." The Bahamian classic shell can also be found in the Florida Keys, and it is among the largest that you can find in the area. These shells are easily found in shallow waters. The large Queen Conch shell has been known to occasionally produce pink pearls, and many of these same pearls can be found in jewelry shops in the Florida Keys. For the tourist who likes to do more than collect shells, Key West even has a conch shell blowing contest each year.
One of the most common shells on Sanibel Island is the heart cockle shell. This same shell is a rare find in other parts of the world. A cockle mollusk has feet and is able to jump several inches in a single bound. Many residents on the island like to use a large cockle shell for a soap dish in their bathrooms.
While a sand dollar is not a mollusk, it is still a highly collectible shell. While it is alive, the sand dollar is brown and has bristles with tiny tubes on them. These bristles allow the creature to breath, move and camoflage itself from predators. An unoccupied sand dollar bleaches itself to a white textured pattern. Many people like to use sand dollars as Christmas ornaments.
Many beaches in Florida have an assortment of clams that are dressed in stripes, solids and, in some cases, plaids. When a coquina shell is opened, it resembles a butterfly. Because they are considered a food source, the coquinas are among the few shells that can be collected live. When exposed by an ocean wave, the coquinas burrow back into damp sand. If you time it right, you can get the sensation of a foot massage. What you wound need to do is you plant your feet as the coquinas are burying themselves back into the sand and allow the creatures to wriggle underneath.
