It's been a while since I have collected some shells on the seashore... and it would be a valid question to ask me why I don't do that, why I don't just go and stroll there, looking for tiny shells... But don't ask me that, as everything I would say would feel like excuses (though they are not). We don't like rants either, so let's stick to the positive side of the story. It starts now:
I used to collect seashells on the beach, especially when we were going to walk there in winter. As I would not think about bathing or swimming all we did was stroll, sunbathe and enjoy a mild winter day. The sea would gift us with seashells and pebbles that I would pick and usually take home.
My son also helped me in this action of bringing home pebbles, shells and all kinds of little treasures from nature. In this little basket, we can see also the shells of land snails, sea snails and one globular object.
Does it mean that I also collect peculiar sea creatures?
Have you ever found one of those?
It is the hard shell of a sea urchin.
What we see here is probably a Mediterranean Sea urchin that we found a few years ago on the shore. It is so dry and has become fragile... When I took it out from the basket today to take a photo, one part broke. Now it is a bit damaged. 🤐
However, this little treasure is not the only sea creature in this little collection. Shall we see the sea stars too?
If the answer is affirmative, then please proceed to the next photo:
This is a very common starfish, the type that we all used to find on the seashore as kids or while snorkelling in the shallow water. It reminds me of all those summers I went with my family to the sea, to spend a few weeks of the summer holidays.
Several years ago a much more interesting starfish joined my little sea collection. We found it without life after it was thrown out by the waves during a storm.
These interesting long arms took this shape when the starfish completely dried. I also like the patterns it has on its body and what it looks like on the other side.
Unfortunately, I have to inform you that here ends the part of the collection that contains interesting sea creatures like urchins and sea stars. Now we are heading back to the shells as it was how the post started actually. Remembering the walks that served to make a wider collection and with the reality that I don't do it anymore.
But wait a minute, it's not everything that bad. I took a little walk on my balcony the other day and then I found this big jar full of exoskeletons - parts of the body that protect the molluscs and gastropods from predators or mechanical damage. In other words shells.
This jar stands among the plants, as an item that takes place from the plants decoration. All these little shells were collected during the last decade and in the lack of a better space they finished in the bottom of the jar. It was filling slowly, as you can see.
Did you know that the study of mollusc shells is called conchology? Hmm, I only found out about it today, so I am definitely not a conchologist. I was just bringing home little shells over the years and made a little collection.
We saw here only the part of the collection as I didn't take out all of them from the jar.
And what about you? Do you collect shells?
