SPECIMEN SHELLS HIGHEST QUALITY AT FANTASTIC PRICES
specimen shells are graded by using the HMS-ISGS Shell Grading Standards.
Standards were first published in the Hawaiian Shell News in 9/1977.
Gem This is a perfect shell with no visable flaws.
Fine. An adult shell with only minor flaws and not more than one shallow growth mark. Must have original color and gloss. No repairs can be made to the shell.
Good. An acceptable shell with a few minor defects. Such as growth marks, broken spines or chips. The shell must display the characteristics of the species.
Commercial Shells not exhibiting the characteristics of the specimen. Shell may be faded, many flaws and growth marks. These shells are not exceptable as specimen shells and questionable for mail order.
- Shells-of Aquarius sells only Fine grade, we do not offer Gems.
VENUS COMB AND VENUS FLOWER BASKET COLLECTOR SHELLS SIZES AND PRICES. FIRST PICTURE ABOVE THIS TEXT IS THE SPINE COVERED VENUS COMB AND THE FLOWER BASKET IS THE CLOSEST TO THIS TEXT
The Venus Comb is actually a Murex shell. They grow spines as a defense against predatory fish. The Venus Comb ranges from the East Indian Ocean, across the Indo-Pacific to the coast of Japan. They like sandy bottom ocean floor away from the coastline. They generally grow to be about 6 inches.
One Venus Comb specimen shell 2 to 3 7/8 inches......$1.75
One Venus Comb specimen shell 4 to 4 7/8 inches......$5.95
One Venus Comb specimen shell 5 to 6 inches......$6.35
VENUS FLOWER BASKET is related to the sponge family. They are found in similar waters as the Venus Comb.
One Venus Flower Basket 7 to 8 inches......$4.90
PAPER NAUTILUS SPECIMEN SHELL
Paper Nautilus is a surface-dwelling Cephalopod (shell with chambers)mollusk(soft-bodied, legless animal that usually secretes a calcious shell)of the genus Argonauta. They are closely related to the octopus
The paper nautilus has a rounded body, eight tentacl.es, and no fins. It is noted for its beautiful papery shell,that may grow up to 8 in.
The papery shell surrounds the female while she tends her eggs. The shell is actually a calcareous egg incasement that is secreted by the tips of the female's two enlarged dorsal tentacles before egg laying.
Juvenile Paper Nautilus' are under 4 inches. These are not as mature and tend to show the seamline of the shell. I only mention this for those that have only dealt with mature specimens. Yhis does not make them any less coveted.
After she deposits her eggs in the floating egg incasement, the female paper nautilus takes shelter in it. The female paper nautilus is often found with her head and tentacles protruding from the opening, but she retreats deeper inside if frightened.
The male paper nautilus is smaller. He does not have the enlarged dorsal tentacles but often shares the shell of a female paper nautilus. The true nautilus (genus Nautilus ) belongs to a different cephalopod group. The paper nautilus is classified in the phylum Mollusca , class Cephalopoda, order Octopoda.
PAPER NAUTILUS SIZES AND PRICES
One Paper Nautilus 2 to 2 1/4 inches......$42
One Paper Nautilus 3 to 3 1/2 inches......$63
ARGONAUTA HIAN SHELL
The Argonauta Hian is also known as the "brown paper nautilus". These shells are not really shell, at all. Rather, they like the Paper Nautilus female create an egg carrier composed from their calcareous secretions.
The Brown Paper Nautilus shell is thin and fragil. Its color is generally varying shades of light brown
- They like the Tiger Nautilus are free swimmers, drifting across the oceans by using there gas filled shell compartments to create bouyance and catch the ocean currents.
- Brown Paper Nautilus shells have been seen worldwide.
BROWN PAPER NAUTILUS SHELL SIZES AND PRICES
One Argonauta Hian shell 1 1/4 to 1 7/8 inches......OUT OF STOCK
One Argonauta Hian shell 2 to 2 1/2 inches......$16.85
EPITONIUM SCALARE SPECIMEN SHELL
The Epitonium Scalare sometimes called Wentletraps gets its name from the Dutch word for winding staircase.
Most Wentletraps are thin and white. Our specimen are pale pink or beige, with white ribs.
Epitonium Scalare were once rare, but better diving equipment is making them more common today. The Wentletraps are found along the Indo-Pacific water way. This region stretches from East Africa Eastward across Indonesia to the Northern shores of Australia.. Epitonium Scalare are mostly intertidal creatures living on sandy bottoms, amoung sea anemomes.
EPITONIUM SCALARE (WENTLETRAPS) SIZES AND PRICES One Epitonium Scalare shell 1 to 2 inches......$6.65
GUILDFORDIA YOKA SPECIMEN SHELL
The Guildfordia Yoka also called the Japanese sea star belong to the Turbanidae family of shells. These are moderately thick shells but light weight.
The specimen belongs to the top shaped shell group but is flat. They have 8 or 9 spines projecting from the shell whorl (one complete turn of the tube of a single shell mollusk around its imaginary axis). The color of the top shell is a copper to dark pink; while underneath it is a creamy white.
Guildfordia Yoka are found from waters surrounding Japan through the Indo-Pacific region from Australia westward to East African shores. Most species live in subtidal areas with rocky sea bottoms. However, some have been found in deep water. Average size 1 inch. Some grow 2 to 2 1/2 inches.
GUILDFORDIA YOKA SPECIMEN SHELL SIZE AND PRICE
One Guidfordia Yoka shell 2 to 3 inches......$2.10
SPECIMEN SHELL FINE QUALIFY MUREX MIYOKOAE WITH ITS APERCULUM SIZE AND PRICE
One specimen shell Murex Miyokoae 2 to 3 inches.......$42
Murex Saulii specimen shell. Murex shells are colorful with many varieties of frills. The Murex Saulii is popular for both color and frills. You can see this in the example picture. Murex's are heavy shells with a few light and fragile. This specimen is from the Indo-Pacific region. Most murex shells prefer tropical seas and stay close to reefs, where they prey on invertebrates.
SIZE AND PRICE OF THE MUREX SAULII One Murex Saulii specimen shell 2 1/2 to 3 inches......$35
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