19 Gripping Seashell Facts We Bet You Didn't Know Before!

Most people love collecting seashells when they visit the beach.

You might have even bought them as a souvenir from your beach vacation. People often make beautiful art and displays with seashells, using them for decoration, crafts, and other uses.

It's no secret that beaches are home to a plethora of objects washed up from the sea. Seashells are the ones that you commonly find amongst the sand or rocks of a beach. The echoes produced by seashells can be compared to those made by waves crashing in the ocean, even if you aren't in the water.

So, are you ever wondering why it happens? What are those sounds like? Is something ghostly up there? Well, the truth is that it is just because of the unique shape that seas' shells have. When air passes through a shell, it amplifies the sound it creates to a greater extent.

Formation Of Seashells

You have probably seen many seashells or even collect them. But have you ever thought about how the seashells were formed?

What causes their formation? There have been 500 billion years on earth, but how did it get there? The vast variety of shells that you will find on the earth come from little creatures called mollusks, that possess mighty muscles known as the mantle.

Mollusks are a type of animal that has a soft and moist body. There are many types of mollusks, and they can live on both land and in water, and they can be with and without shells.

Unlike humans, dogs, and other vertebrate animals, these mollusks do not have any skeletons; they have a soft and moist body. But some of them may grow shells to protect their body.

A living mollusk can grow a shell on its body, but that does not mean that the shell is alive, so when the mollusk dies, it leaves its shell behind. It becomes a shelter for the hermit crabs and fish, nest material for the birds, and nutrients for many animals.

When hermit crabs outgrow their shell, they look for empty snail shells, and if there are no snail shells, then hermit crabs will not have any home.

These shells also come in many shapes, patterns, and colors that vary depending on the environment and the species of the mollusk.

The shell of a mollusk grows with the animal, so as the animal gets bigger so does its shell. A molusk will keep the same shell for all of its life.

Characteristics Of Seashells

The shells provide a measure of protection against predators.

Mollusks include animals such as snails, clams, oysters, mussels, and many others. Some of the shells are spiral shaped, like a snail, and others are in two halves that can be closed tight, such as clams and mussels.

Most mollusks are relatively small, approximately 0.4-0.8 in (1-2 cm) long, but there are also much bigger species of mollusk, such as a queen conch with a shell size of 13.5 inch (35.2cm) or even the giant squid, with a shell that has evolved to be inside its body!

Different seashells come in different colors, shapes, textures, patterns, and colors. You can even find very large shells, such as the queen conch shell.

The different shapes and colors of the shell are based on the diet and environment of the animal that lives there. The color of the shell helps in determining the functions.

The shells are in the form of single and bivalve shells. A bivalve shell opens in two halves, and animals rest inside.

Importance Of Seashells

Seashells are a critical component of marine and coastal ecosystems because of their multiple functions.

They are the homes for the hermit crabs, whose bodies can curl comfortably inside old shells. The shape of the shells matters the most because that helps the animal curl their body according to that.

If they do not get suitable shells, they have been found to live in trash such as toothpaste or bottle caps, which can be very dangerous for their living.

Shells are the home to many animals on beaches and in oceans, vital in protecting them from predators.

People love to collect seashells, but you are advised to make sure no living animal is still inside. In some places, people are also asked to not take shells home, and to leave them on the beach for other people to enjoy, and animals to use.

Uses Of Seashells

Different shells exist and may look different, but they are all created and made by living creatures.

Nowadays, you may use the shells as part of a collection or for decoration. They are even sometimes used for gardening and to feed chickens. Seashell hunting by shell collectors and beachcombing are well loved outdoor activities.

Historically, some communities used them as currency in many countries as they were considered valuable.

Large shells can be used as an instrument in many places such as the Caribbean and Japan.

Ammonites, creatures that are said to have evolved just about 416 million years back, were once known to be the most abundant creatures in the ancient seas. The ammonite shell is made from the aragonite mineral — a shiny mineral that, surprisingly, pearls are made from too.

FAQs

What is the purpose of a seashell?

A seashell or mollusk shell is the exoskeleton of the animals belonging to the mollusk phylum (group), such as snails, mussels, clams and even squid and octopus. It supports and protects the body of the animals. Seashells are composed of calcium carbonate.

How old is a seashell?

The seashells that you may find could be more than 500 billion years old.

Why do seashells have different colors?

The color of the seashells comes from the environment of the mollusks. It is caused by the pigments incorporated into the calcium carbonate shell.

Do seashells move?

The seashell itself only moves if the animal inside it does, or if it is moved around by the tide in the sea.

Which animals have a shell?

Mollusks, crustaceans, turtles, etc., have a shell.

How many types of seashells are there?

There are about 100 different seashells that you can find worldwide.

Where are shells found?

People can find the shells on the strandline of beaches, naturally deposited by the waves. You may find snail shells in your garden or in the park.

Why do seashells vary in color?

Each seashell is different from the other that comes from the environment of the mollusk.

Which aquatic animal has a hard shell?

Mollusks have a hard shell.

Why do animals have shells?

Animals have shells for protection and shelter.

How do sea snails make their shells?

Sea snails use their mantles to secrete layers and make their shells.

How long does a seashell last?

The seashell grows continuously throughout the creatures' life living in them.

What creatures live in seashells?

The creatures in the shells are known as the Mollusks, including Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Polyplacophora, Cephalopoda, Scaphopoda, and Monoplacophora.  

Are shells bad luck?

Seashells are a lifeless decor; if you bring these things home, it depends on what you believe. Some people say they are bad luck and other believe they bring good luck.

How is a clamshell created?

The mantle of the clam absorbs salts from the ocean and hardens.

What do shells mean?

A shell usually means the outer protective layer of a sea creature.