Isle Of Palms Magazine Spring/Summer 2019

13 www.IsleOfPalmsMagazine.com | www.ILoveIOP.com | www.IOPmag.com Island Seashell Guide S earching for seashells is a favorite pastime of many from coast to coast. And, hey, why not: Who doesn’t love finding a swirled-up, partially buried treasure from the sea – as if each shell has come individually wrapped from the ocean for our amusement and wonder? Seashells are quite literally gifts from mother nature, and, here in the Lowcountry, we’re surrounded by beautiful shorelines to stroll, searching for those certain “gifts” that catch our eye. From shades of light-pink and yellow and orange to those more muted tones of ivory, bright-whites and beige – even those with some speckles or flecks – they all have names to be learned and identified. … Names native to the South Carolina coast, where they are “unwrapped” and taken home to be treasured. Here are just a few of many you may discover. By Helen Harris LETTEREDOLIVE The lettered olive (Oliva sayana) was designated the state shell of South Carolina in 1984. Edmund Ravenel – an early pioneer in conchology and also from Charleston – found and named the shell. KNOBBEDWHELK The most common whelk in South Carolina, the knobbed whelk (Busycon carica) has flourished in the Atlantic, washing up on Carolina shores for over 30 million years. You may recognize the long egg strings the knobbed whelks lay twice a year – usually Sept. through Oct. and April through May. LIGHTNINGWHELK The lightning whelk (Busycon perversum pulleyi) may be an easier shell to identify; this large, distinctive shell spirals to the left (most spiraling shells open to the right) and grows up to 1 foot. ATLANTIC CALICO SCALLOP With its dainty size and contrasting purple-pink to orange hues against a cream background, the Atlantic calico scallop (Argopecten gibbus) certainly catches the eye of beachgoers looking for a treasure to pocket. Photo by jaxshells.org. Photo by Jarek Tuszyński. Photo by Andrea Westmoreland. Photo by Edwardtbabinski.