Hobbies And Interests
Fusiform Shape
The Formosa babylon is a medium-sized shell, about 2 inches long, thin and light, with what's called a fusiform shape -- it spirals upward with the spirals or whorls getting smaller and tighter until they reach the apex of what's called a spire. The shell, like all shells, has an aperture, or the opening where the animal comes out. The Formosa babylon is a smooth, glossy shell, with a cream colored base and a pattern of soft tan markings.
Cowries
The eglantine cowrie is oval, like all cowries, from 1/2 to 2 inches long. The shell has a band of chestnut color, and the aperture has thin teeth. The snail is found under stones and corals in shallow water around the Hawaiian and other islands. Cassiau's cowrie is very rare and seems confined to Polynesia. It's the shape of a cowrie shell and only about 1/2 inch long, but the shell is very thick and bumpy. The aperture is narrow and toothed, and there's a furrow down the back of the shell. The snail lives in shallow water.
Spherical Shell
The gold moon shell has a vivid yellow or orange shell, which gives it its name. It also looks like a misshapen harvest moon. The shell has a thin suture, or a line joining two successive whorls on the shell. The gold moon shell is found in sandy bottoms in the infra-littoral zone.
Found in coral reefs
The laciniated conch is a dramatic shell. It's 4 inches long and thick, with a high spire. The aperture flares out and is edged with ripples, and the interior is a pinkish brown or violet. It's restricted to coral sands in the Pacific. The cone-top shell looks like a turban. It's 2 to 3 inches long, thick, and has flat whorls. The aperture points downward and the shell is ribbed and seems banded with rows of beads. It's cream colored with a brown pattern. The inside of the aperture is mother of pearl. It lives in coral reefs in the infra-littoral zone.