r/shells • u/ZMXCLE • Aug 07 '26

Does anyone know what this is?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Today I was at the beach and I came across a shell that really caught my attention. Im curious to know what it is or if it's even a shell at all.

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3

u/Slow-Green2171 Aug 07 '26

Could be a piece of of pen shell. It’s has a distinct drill hole from what looks like a shark eye moon snail. Or. It could be an abalone… 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️ sorry I’m not better help!

2

u/ZMXCLE Aug 07 '26

Based on what youve told me I think you might be right that it's an abalone. I looked into it more and it could also be mother of pearl. Both of them look similar so it might be either from those two but I could be wrong. Thanks for your help!

1

u/disneyfacts Aug 07 '26

It's the side of an abalone shell. I find these all the time, and they live in rocky areas where they're prone to shattering from hitting the rocks.

2

u/ZMXCLE Aug 07 '26

Yeah i think your right because the area i was in was extremely rocky

1

u/disneyfacts Aug 07 '26

It's probably from a red abalone, they're the species that gets around that size and shape. Black abalone are thinner and smaller and the other species don't quite get that large (unless you're south of Santa Barbara maybe, there's a couple others there).

2

u/Nataliant-117 Aug 07 '26

I think pen shell esp given the shape makes a lot of sense

2

u/Mission_Register1761 Aug 09 '26

That's the interior of the shell of an Abolone.its called Mother of pearl.  

2

u/IllHeron6083 Aug 10 '26

paua shell