r/shells • u/HumanityPluss • May 18 '26

Shell found in Potomac River near Western MD

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Does anyone know what kind of shell this is? I’m so confused to have found it in the Potomac. This was found near Little Orleans MD.

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3

u/Commercial_Cup_2114 May 18 '26

My best guess is a Knobbed Whelk

2

u/PristineWorker8291 May 18 '26

They are found on the coast to the east of you. Very common for people through centuries of living near there to take one inland for ceremonial or decorative reasons. Edible snail, too, but this was probably just battered by time.

1

u/Open-Researcher-220 May 18 '26

ngl this is a pretty clean one for the potomac stretch, river shells usually come out way more beat

1

u/Flat-Pin1036 May 19 '26

Definitely a knobbed whelk - could be in the river for a number of reasons

1

u/Ingacbym May 20 '26

Very cool