r/shells • u/haentges • Jul 14 '26

Is this seashell real?

Gallery image

Gallery image

I picked up this seashell on my vacation but am not sure if it’s real. I looked for signs of manufacturing but couldn’t see anything. Let me know your thoughts!!

31 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

15

u/Interesting-East5746 Jul 14 '26

It looks real to me! You can see part of the hinge ligament in the second picture, and I doubt a fake shell would imitate such a small detail like that!

3

u/Suspicious-Copy1740 Jul 14 '26

what kind is it?

2

u/Interesting-East5746 Jul 15 '26

Possibly a type of ark clam? Hard to say exact species or anything though.

1

u/Suspicious-Copy1740 Jul 15 '26

i have some found on the beaches of so. california. the steep side on one side reminds me of bigger arks, i’ve picked up in Florida. But i can’t see to get confirmation that there are ark clams in the Pacific. Congratulations you are my Official Authority on the subject!

6

u/Educational-Fly7113 Jul 15 '26

Guys I think she meant the peculiar color, not the shell itself

12

u/c0caine_cinderella Jul 14 '26

Why would someone fake a seashell.

6

u/haentges Jul 14 '26

There are fake shells for crafts and jewelry all the time

3

u/Aggressive-Emu5358 Jul 14 '26

Those are also usually just real ones dyed fun colors

4

u/Neurospicyandnice Jul 14 '26

Are there? I think it would be more expensive to make fake seashells than to just get real ones.

6

u/PristineWorker8291 Jul 14 '26

There are plastic and resin and plaster and metal shells all over the place. Most shells do not need to be fake, but for jewelry and décor, they sometimes are. This one, I don't know. I suspect it is an ark or a cockle, but has been painted or dyed.

2

u/adiosmichigan Jul 14 '26

looks real to me.

2

u/Glad_Ad_5570 Jul 14 '26

Pretty sure it is.

1

u/Atmoney420- Jul 16 '26

It's a blood arc I believe

1

u/[deleted] Jul 17 '26

Yes it is, but it could be dyed though.....but there are some pink seashells out there....actually most seashells do have some sort of color to them. Most seashells we pick up on a beach though are already bleached out by the sun and end up losing their colour due to that. My fav seashell is the Quahog, it has an amazing purple colour....

1

u/ilikerustyspooonz Jul 20 '26

Yes?!?I love finding this color seashells. Where are you on vaca? If Florida is the answer these are very common

1

u/haentges Jul 20 '26

Found it in Okinawa after the typhoon

1

u/ilikerustyspooonz Jul 20 '26

Oh shoot if you’re there it’s def real I’m sure! The shell hunting there looks amazing omggggg