Beachcombing on Tybee Island

4/13/2014

The beaches on Tybee Island, Georgia, have the same rough, shell-strewn sand as the
beaches in northern Florida. It was a bright, sunny day, so Elin & Lonnie went out for a
quick look to see what they could find....

Lonnie found a feather....

...and Elin found a shell with a perfectly round hole in it.

I had always thought they were 'periwinkle holes', but upon doing some research, discovered that periwinkles are herbivores that mostly eat algae. Those perfectly round, bevelled holes in sea shells are made by carnivorous snails- either whelks, moon snails, or oyster drills.

Jane

4/13/2014 10:39:12 am

I wish you could see my smile......it is HUGE! I love these beach photos so much.
The girls just seem so alive!

And how amazing about the carnivorous snails and the round bore holes!

Martha

4/13/2014 10:52:14 am

I'm glad you like them! These are from the very last beach we visited, and I was rather stressed taking them, with it being midday in the bright sun, so had to work really fast. There's several more from this photo shoot in the second Florida Album.

Martha

4/13/2014 10:55:30 am

Yes, the snails secret an acid that softens the shell, and then they drill a hole, and insert an appendage through it to feed on the animal inside the shell. Don't you find shells with these holes on the UK beaches?

Jane

4/13/2014 11:06:55 am

Yes we do have shells like this, but I have never noticed any with the holes.....but I will certainly be looking out for them next time I am at the seaside!

And yes the the strong sun must have been such a worry.......I did wonder how you coped. I see speed was the key!
Off to look at the extra photos now!

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Beachcombing on Tybee Island

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