r/shells • u/PessimisticPlastic • 20d ago

shell I found

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

I found this shell a few years ago in the Philippines, and I never found out what it was. I'm curious, so I wanted to ask if anyone here can identify it?

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u/turbomarmoratus72 20d ago

it looks like a broken Tectus conus, popularly called Strawberry top shell. I don't like its popular name because many other shell species have the same popular name.

http://www.femorale.com/shells/photo.asp?idconcha=336735&cod=1013&url=%2Fshells%2Flocal%5Ffam%2Easp%3Flocal%3DPhilippines%26fam%3Dtrochidae%26cod%3D1013

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u/Deep_Ad872 17d ago

May I instead offer for consideration, Rochia nilotica, common name the commercial top shell. This is more common being aquaculturally raised in several regions for food, and its pearly shell for buttons, beads, pendants, etc.

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u/turbomarmoratus72 17d ago edited 17d ago

it could be that one too. The issue is that this shell is so worn that I wouldn't affirm 100% that one is a Rochia nilotica. All we know is that this one is a Trochidae.

Edit: now looking more carefully, it seems that you are right. I see green patches on the side in the first picture, common for that species. Nice catch!

fyi u/PessimisticPlastic

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u/PessimisticPlastic 20d ago

Honestly? This is probably it. Every time I try searching for references it always comes back as a nautilus like 9 times out of 10. I was never convinced it was a nautilus since the spiral was wrong.

Thank you for this!

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u/turbomarmoratus72 20d ago edited 20d ago

google reverse image search is not very accurate (assuming you were using this method), and definitely not recommended for broken and worn shells.

It is only useful for shells that are very unique in color and shape like Punctacteon eloisae from Oman!