#conchological

[hellsitegenetics]

God I can't tell if I'm awestruck, gobsmacked, confounded, or driven to complete and utter terror by this blog's existence. (Affectionate)

String identified: G ca't t ' atc, gac, c, t ct a tt t t g' tc. (Actat)

Closest match: Fragum sueziense genome assembly, chromosome: 3 Common name: Heart cockle

[miscellaneous-art]

George Brettingham Sowerby I; George Brettingham Sowerby II, The conchological illustrations, 1841. University of Michigan, HathiTrust Digital Library

[noosphe-re]

Family Pseudomelatomidae, Pyrgospira tampaensis (Bartsch & Rehder, 1939), Tampa Turrid, Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum

[histsciart]

A Collection of Shells

SciArt of a variety of shells from George Brettingham Sowerby's A Conchological Manual (4th Ed.) (1852).

View more in Biodiversity Heritage Library with thanks to Ernst Mayr Library of the Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology.

[arthistoryanimalia]

The Ocean's Currency: Cowrie Shells in African Art | The Art Institute of Chicago

[shelltreasures]

Welcome to The Shell Explorer's Haven: Unveiling the Marvels of Shells

Ahoy, fellow shell enthusiasts, and welcome to The Shell Explorer's Haven! I am thrilled to embark on this incredible journey with you as we dive into the mesmerizing world of shells. Within these virtual shores, we will unravel the secrets, marvel at the diversity, and uncover the hidden treasures of shells from all corners of the globe.

Picture yourself strolling along sandy beaches, the gentle sea breeze caressing your face and the rhythmic waves serenading your soul. In these moments, nature bestows upon us one of its most remarkable gifts—shells. These exquisite creations, fashioned by the sea's timeless artistry, captivate our hearts and ignite our sense of wonder.

For me, the allure of shells is simply irresistible. From the intricate spirals of the Nautilus to the delicate iridescence of the Abalone,

each shell tells a story, a testament to the incredible biodiversity and ecological richness of our oceans. Through our shared passion, we embark on a quest to understand and appreciate these beautiful remnants of the marine realm.

As a seasoned shell collector with years of exploration under my belt, I have witnessed the magic that lies within these spiral wonders. My fascination was sparked by a serendipitous encounter, a simple shell washed ashore, catching the sunlight in all its resplendent glory. From that moment, my curiosity became an insatiable hunger to unravel the mysteries hidden within each shell fragment, whether it be a flawless specimen or a weathered relic.

In this blog, I invite you to join me on this extraordinary expedition, where we will delve into the captivating facets of shell collecting. Together, we will navigate the uncharted waters of shell identification, uncover preservation techniques, unearth the tales behind rare and elusive species, and even explore the creative realms of shell-inspired crafts.

Expect a treasure trove of captivating stories, practical tips, and breathtaking visuals that will transport you to the shoreline, even from the comfort of your own abode. I encourage you to immerse yourself in this community of shell enthusiasts, to share your own experiences, and to seek answers to the burning questions that dwell within your curious minds.

May the shimmering shells forever ignite our passion for exploration!

Yours in admiration,

MarineShellSeeker

[juno-the-vampire]

i just discovered the world of conchology and I am FASCINATED. i have no clue as to why this discovery, the discovery of a world of shell experts, is so shocking to me (there's and expert for everything!) yet here i am.

the website i discovered is the belgian owned conchology.be. they house several articles on shell information (including how to identify a false shell for sale! who knew these types of markets existed!!) and several biographies on famous conchologists and their discoveries!! highly recommend giving this site a visit.

[yatescountyhistorycenter]

A lot of ‘Hart’ and the ‘Wright’ stuff

By Jonathan Monfiletto

One of the greatest scientists to ever call Yates County home gathered nuts as a boy and sold them so he could purchase two astronomy textbooks. The man billed as one of three Yates County scientists to have a plant genus named after him used to sneak up to the roof of his family’s home after his parents went to sleep so he could study the sky and identify the stars and planets.

So began the distinguished career of Samuel Hart Wright, the only child of James and Zilliah Hart Wright – who came from Peekskill in Westchester County to a farm in Starkey when their son was in his early youth – who had high aspirations but little opportunity to achieve them. After “the rudimental education afforded by the country school,” as Berlin Hart Wright’s “Memories of Local Naturalists” terms it, Samuel Hart Wright’s father denied him further learning and figured what little education the father had attained was good enough for the son.

Still the boy, born in 1825, did what he could to learn what he could, borrowing books whenever possible and eagerly absorbing their content and even taking them out into the fields (he and his religious and zealous parents labored on their farm every day but Sunday) and reading and solving problems while he worked. Once, two mechanics hired to construct an ornamental fence on the family farm brought astronomical books and charts out of their tool chests and spent one evening identifying the stars, planets, and constellations in the sky. The boy Samuel paid attention and listened, vowing to gain such knowledge for himself.

In order to do so, Samuel left the family farm “as soon as legally possible,” his son later wrote, securing a position as a teacher, marrying Joanna McLean, and purchasing a home in the village of Dundee. With support from his wife’s parents, he studied medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. After his graduation, Dr. Hart Wright rode with a local practitioner and later began his own practice. However, medicine was not the lucrative field it is today, so he decided to delve into his interest in mathematical astronomy and prepare an almanac manuscript.

Berlin Hart Wright’s biography of his father states Samuel prepared his first manuscript for 1840, but since Samuel would have been 15 years old then I have wondered if this is an error of some kind. Since Samuel and Joanna married in 1845, I wonder if Samuel’s first almanac was prepared for 1850 and his son was off by 10 years in his writing.

In whatever year it actually happened, Samuel sold his first almanac on his third attempt, earning $20 in cash and $20 in medical books for the manuscript. “The books were secured by driving 50 miles after them but the cash is still due,” Berlin Hart Wright wrote. The following year, Samuel was preparing another manuscript when he learned of the death of David Young – an astronomer who made calculations for many almanacs – and visited his widow in the Young home in Nyack. Looking over the man’s book collection, Samuel noticed a homemade memorandum book that contained the addresses, descriptions, and prices for the publishers with which Young worked. Samuel successfully solicited those publishers with his own manuscripts, and his almanac business finally took off.

In 1855, Joanna died shortly after Samuel received his doctor of medicine from Geneva Medical College (near the present-day site of Hobart & William Smith Colleges). Samuel began studying botany in his spare time to drown his grief in work and took botany trips to different parts of Yates County. Along these trips, he met Mary Jane Burtch, who became his second wife the following year. Mary Jane is the sister of the father of Verdi Burtch, making Samuel the uncle by marriage of another well-known Yates County scientist.

Dr. Hart Wright turned his attention toward botany and began collecting his own specimens and exchanging them with other collectors at home and abroad. He found and named new species; he even acquired equipment for microscopic examination of his plants and their parts. He also began studying insect life as it applies to botany and agriculture and obtained more collections and classifications.

The Yates County Chronicle actually had a mathematical department from February 1872 to August 1880 that Samuel oversaw, and he wrote a column for the newspaper in which he presented mathematical problems and solutions for an audience eager to learn. For approximately 430 weeks – there were 11 editions in that timespan without a mathematical column – Dr. Hart Wright, with a variety of contributors and diverse topics in mathematics – promoted mathematics and education through the newspaper.

In 1874, Samuel handed the almanac business off to his son and took up yet another scientific endeavor in conchology. He made several trips to nearby lakes and streams to once again collect and study specimens. Ten years later, he spent the winter in Florida and discovered a new plant that Dr. Asa Gray – a central New York native considered the greatest American botanist – named Hartwrightia in his friend’s honor. This made Dr. Hart Wright the third Yates County scientist to have a plant named after him.

Among his many accomplishments, Samuel – along with Berlin – is credited with being the first person to survey the aboriginal settlement known today as the Bluff Point ruins. In the spring of 1880, according to an article Berlin wrote, the pair was making a geological survey of Yates County and was near the summit of the promontory known as Bluff Point when they happened upon the remains of the settlement. The Bluff Point ruins – including the people who have examined them and the theories these people have about them – is a topic I plan to explore in a future blog.

Dr. Hart Wright died in 1905 at age 80, but the legacy of his scientific career lived on – not only in the scientific work of Berlin but also in the monument at his grave in Lakeview Cemetery in Penn Yan. After his father’s death, Berlin asked his son, Leon M. Wright, to obtain a section of ancient tree trunks from the Petrified Forest of Arizona to use in the construction of a memorial to Dr. Hart Wright. Leon obtained a fallen section of tree that originally measured 6 feet long and 18 inches in diameter and weighed approximately 1,600 pounds but that broke into three pieces nearly equal in length during its transport to New York.

To create the monument, two of the pieces were arranged horizontally on two granite bases with a granite die placed on top of these and the third piece placed vertically on top of the die. Because of vandalism in the cemetery, the top piece was apparently removed for safety’s sake and reportedly given to the Yates County History Center.

---

Berlin Hart Wright was born in 1851 in the same Dundee home his parents moved into upon their marriage six years earlier. Like his father, Berlin took an interest in all things science at a young age; unlike his father, Berlin was enabled and encouraged to pursue his interest. A bad injury at age 12 left him bedridden for a year, according to his autobiographical sketch in his “Memories of Local Naturalists” book, and he devoted that year to learning mathematics through his father’s books and his father’s assistance as needed.

With a desire to be independent, Berlin left home and worked for a farmer near Penn Yan, making arrangements for a salary and board while attending school at “the little red school house … two miles distant” from the farm. Later, he enrolled in Penn Yan Academy but “chafed under the slow pace in branches of chief interest” so left – presumably to take up self-education – with a goal, that he soon achieved, of returning to the academy as a teacher.

Berlin and his wife, Loretta F. Mills, were teaching in Dresden when a new railroad – presumably the Fall Brook railroad that was built along the towpath of the Crooked Lake Canal – was under construction and much sedimentary rock was being blasted out in the process. The Wrights gathered quantities of fossils and classified them, and they continued to make Saturday school excursions to the site as part of their lessons. This study led to a complete geological survey of Yates County – the first of its kind – that was published by New York State, with a report of new species discovered in the county’s rock formations.

Berlin gave up his classroom work to take over his father’s almanac business, and he also took up conchology and began collecting and classifying – along with his wife and his father – specimens of local shells. Berlin later took his work in botany and conchology to Florida, where he relocated in order to relieve his rheumatism, a disorder he attributed to his wading in cold waters in search of specimens.

In his autobiographical sketch, Berlin paid particular homage to his findings in Bellona, where he found exposed layers of Genesee slate on top of Tully limestone on top of Moscow shale. He uncovered several shell and fish fossils and even the spine of a shark – the first such fossil to be taken in America from Moscow shale. Reading this in Berlin’s own words made me recall our early Oliver’s Travels article on the discovery of a shark fossil in Benton, the town where the hamlet of Bellona is located, and – putting two and two together – wonder if the newspaper items highlighted in this article relate to Berlin’s finding a shark spine in Bellona.

Berlin, of Jerusalem at the time, died in 1940 at his daughter’s home almost a week after he suffered a fall and fractured the upper part of his leg. He sold his shell collection to the University of Michigan and more of his and his father’s collections to the Museum of Natural History of Cleveland; he also turned over his fossil collection to the Smithsonian Institution to make collections for schools.

[historicalbookimages]

🐚 A conchological manual London: Henry G. Bohn, 1846.

[mybeingthere]

Designs and colours of shells are wonderous - a true mystery of nature.

Here the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute explains the technology of shell-building. Yes, I understand everything, but it is still a wonder. Images are from various internet archives.

"Where do shells come from? The animals make them. Mollusks have an outermost layer of tissue on their bodies. Called the mantle, this layer connects the animal to its shell. The mantle also creates that shell.

Specialized cells in the mantle build the shell using proteins and minerals. These are secreted—released into the space outside the cells. There, the proteins create a framework that provides support for the growing shell. The proteins in the framework also determine which minerals are used in specific parts of the shell.

Calcium carbonate, the main mineral found in shells (including eggshells), binds to the protein. If you have ever seen construction workers build with concrete, this is similar. The protein is like the steel rebar that gives shape and support. Calcium carbonate is like the cement that fills in all the gaps.

Calcium carbonate can form two different types of crystals. One is called calcite. This incredibly common crystal can be found all over the world. Calcite makes up chalk, marble, coral, limestone—and seashells. The other form is aragonite. This crystal has a different arrangement of calcium carbonate. Both calcite and aragonite are found in seashells.

A mollusk’s shell has three layers. Each is made up of similar materials. But how those materials are arranged gives them each a different look and feel. The outermost layer is mostly protein. It’s often rough and may have bumps or spikes. Proteins in the middle layer cause calcium carbonate to form calcite crystals. These fill in the spaces, making the shell tough to break.

The innermost layer is the one in contact with the mantle. It’s a smooth, iridescent layer called nacre or mother-of-pearl. Nacre is made up of protein and calcium carbonate. But it looks and feels completely different from other parts of the shell. That’s because the mantle secretes different proteins for different layers. Different proteins cause calcium carbonate to crystallize in different ways. Those used in the middle layer create calcite. Those used in the innermost layer create aragonite.

As the animal grows, its shell must grow along with it. This happens along the outer edges. A snail adds to its shell around the opening, where it pokes its head out. For a clam or mussel, it’s the outer edges where the two shells separate. The result is growth rings, like those in a tree, that allow us to measure a mollusk’s age.

When the animal inside dies, its shell is gradually pounded against the rocks and sand. Over time, shells break down. They become part of the sand. White beaches have sand made almost entirely of tiny bits of shells."

[conchologyeorzea]

Introducing the Faculty of Conchology!

The work of novice researcher Innis'a Bvalvah is not over, and we are happy to announce that the Faculty of Conchology is open to visitors! This venue welcomes any and all to visit and observe the hard working researchers as they strive to study and preserve the molluscs of our star.

The Faculty features multiple exhibits, showing where and how the species live and thrive. As they make new discoveries, the exhibits may evolve.

Light DC - Alpha - Mist Ward 23, plot 42 Always open!

[miscellaneous-art]

George Brettingham Sowerby I; George Brettingham Sowerby II, The conchological illustrations, 1841. University of Michigan, HathiTrust Digital Library

[noosphe-re]

Fig. 24 in Unraveling one of the 'Big Five': update of the taxonomy of Triphoridae (Gastropoda, Triphoroidea) from Brazil, published as part of Fernandes, Maurício Romulo & Pimenta, Alexandre Dias, 2020, Unraveling one of the 'Big Five': update of the taxonomy of Triphoridae (Gastropoda, Triphoroidea) from Brazil, pp. 1-170 in European Journal of Taxonomy 665 on page 52, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2020.665, http://zenodo.org/record/3899047

[zazzlingadvintage]

The conchological illustrations or, Coloured figures of all the hitherto unfigured recent shells, 1832

Prints and stickers

[shelltreasures]

The Beauty of Shells

Prepare to be enchanted by the breathtaking beauty of shells! These natural masterpieces are the result of millions of years of evolution and the artistic touch of the sea. From the vibrant hues of the Conch to the intricate patterns of the Cowrie, shells are nature's dazzling canvases, capturing the imagination of collectors and beachcombers alike.

My Journey as a Shell Collector

Shell collecting has been my lifelong passion, an adventurous voyage of discovery and wonder. Each shell I add to my collection tells a unique story—a tale of far-flung shores, mysterious creatures, and the relentless tides that shape our world. Join me as I share my experiences, from memorable beachcombing adventures to encounters with rare and elusive specimens.

The Fascinating World of Shell Identification

Unraveling the mystery of shell identification is like solving a captivating puzzle. With keen observation and knowledge, we can discern the subtle differences in shape, color, and texture that distinguish one species from another. Together, we will dive into the intriguing realm of conchology, exploring classification systems, field guides, and the secrets that lie within the intricate details of shells.

Preserving Shells: Capturing the Essence of Beauty

Preservation is an art that allows us to immortalize the fragile beauty of shells. Whether it's through careful cleaning, delicate repairs, or creating stunning displays, we will delve into preservation techniques that honor the essence of each shell. Learn the tricks of the trade and discover how to maintain the luster and integrity of your own shell collection.

Shell Crafts: Unleashing Creativity

Let your imagination take flight as we explore the world of shell-inspired crafts. From intricate jewelry to whimsical home decor, shells offer endless possibilities for creative expression. I will share step-by-step tutorials, innovative ideas, and inspiration to help you transform these oceanic treasures into unique and cherished works of art.

Exploring Shell Habitats: From Coastlines to Deep Waters

The enchantment of shells extends beyond the sandy shores. Join me as we journey beneath the waves, exploring diverse habitats where shells reside. From tide pools to coral reefs, rocky cliffs to sandy beaches, we will unravel the ecological significance of shells and their vital role in marine ecosystems.

Ecological Conservation: Protecting Shells and their Habitat

As stewards of nature, we have a responsibility to protect the delicate ecosystems that nurture and sustain shells. Discover the pressing issues facing shell habitats today and learn about conservation efforts that aim to preserve these precious treasures for generations to come. Together, we can make a difference in safeguarding our oceans and their precious inhabitants.

The Joy of Sharing: Community and Collaboration

In this vast community of shell enthusiasts, the joy is multiplied when we share our experiences, knowledge, and discoveries. Engage in discussions, connect with fellow collectors, and contribute to the collective wisdom of the shell-collecting community. Let's foster a spirit of collaboration and celebrate the bonds that unite us through our shared love for shells.

Embark on the Shell Collector's Journey

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey through the wondrous world of shells? Together, we will unravel the mysteries, ignite our curiosity, and immerse ourselves in the captivating beauty that shells offer. Get ready to set sail on this grand adventure, and let the shells guide us to new horizons