| Term | Definition |
| ARK SHELL |
A member of the BIVALVE family Arcidae. See the website: iEspana for examples of Arc Shells. |
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| BUBBLE SHELL | A CEPHALASPID OPISTHOBRANCH mollusk. Examples are those species in the genera Bulla and Acteocina. | |
| CARRIER SHELL | A SNAIL of the family Xenophoridae. These snails attach objects to the periphery of their whorls, thereby "carrying" them. | |
| CHINESE HAT SHELL | A shell of the family Calyptraeidae. See also: SLIPPER SHELL; CUP AND SAUCER SHELL | |
| COAT OF MAIL (SHELL) | Common name applied to CHITONS (the molluscan class Polyplacophora), due to their resemblance to jointed armour. | |
| CONE SHELL |
Common name applied to a SNAIL of the genus Conus. See also: CONOTOXIN. Also, see: The Conus Biodiversity Website. |
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| CUP AND SAUCER SHELL | A shell of the family Calyptraeidae. See also: SLIPPER SHELL; CHINESE HAT SHELL | |
| DEAD SHELL | Term applied by collectors to a shell which did not have a live animal in it when collected; see: LIVE SHELL. | |
| INTERNAL SHELL | Having the shell always inside of an animal (as is the shell of Aplysia spp.). | |
| LIVE SHELL | Term applied by collectors to a shell which had a live animal in it when collected; see: DEAD SHELL. | |
| RAZOR CLAM (=RAZOR SHELL) |
Common name applied to the ELONGATE bivalve shells of the genus Solen. Photo: Solen viridis Say, 1821 |
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| REVERSED SHELL | See: SINISTRAL. | |
| SHELL | The CALCAREOUS structure secreted by the molluscan MANTLE. Most mollusks have external shells, some have internal shells, and others (as adults) have no shell; = TEST. | |
| SHELL CLUB | An organized group of individuals, amateur and professional, interested in the phylum Mollusca. Although the name implies only shells (of marine, freshwater, terrestrial, arboreal, marine and fresh water molluscs), club members often have broader interests to include those molluscs without shells as adults (e.g., nudibranchs, ascoglossans, cephalopods, aplacophorans). Typically, regular meetings are held, presentations are made, and field trips organized; often, a newsletter and/or website is published. A list of shell clubs (and related organizations) is maintained on the Conchologists of America (COA) website. See also: MALACOLOGICAL SOCIETY. | |
| SHELL COLLECTION | An accumulation of molluscan shells. This collection can vary from a basket of shells to a massive amount of shells, all of which are (typically) cataloged with a taxonomic name and (more importantly) collection data. Professional collections are maintained at a variety of museums, for example the United States National Museum (USNM), Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences (ANS), etc. Many "shell collections" are better classified as mollusc collections because they contain the preserved shelless molluscs as well. Often the professional collections are repository sites for TYPE SPECIMENS. Some "shell" collections (or sub-collections) may be entirely of a variety of OPERCULA. | |
| SHELL GLAND | The gland that secretes the shell for the PRODISSOCONCH I. | |
| SHELL SHOW | An event, usually hosted by a SHELL CLUB, where many people display ("show") their shells (a portion of their SHELL COLLECTION) to the public. The displays usually are submitted in various categories (e.g., scientific, MINIATURES, art, one family, one species, etc.) for judging by selected experts. Ribbons, plaques, trophies, etc. are awarded to selected displays. A list of shell shows (and related events) is posted on the COA website. | |
| SHELLFISH | A culinary term referring to edible shelled molluscs (as well as some crustaceans and echinoderms), including (but not limited to): MUSSELS, QUAHOGS, SCALLOPS, and PERIWINKLES. | |
| SHELLFISH LISTSERV |
A mailing list on a LISTSERV hosted by the National Shellfisheries Association (NSA). "The purpose of the Forum e-mail list is to promote open exchange of ideas among those working with or interested in any aspect of shellfisheries - research, management, regulation, commercial production, etc." Another "SHELLFISH" mailing list is provided by the Washington State Department of Health as a service to the shellfish industry and partner agencies and organizations who are involved in commercial shellfish harvest management. See also: CONCH-L; GASTROPODNET; MOLLUSCAlist; STROMBUS-L. See the compilation of information about Molluscan Listserves. |
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| SHELLY | Composed of CALCIUM CARBONATE; CALCAREOUS; with a PORCELANEOUS rather than a HORNY texture; = TESTACEOUS. | |
| SLIPPER SHELL | Gastropods of the genus Crepidula where the underside of the shell has the appearance of a slipper. See also: DECK; DIAPHRAGM. | |
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| SLIT SHELL | A SNAIL of the family Pleurotomariidae. These snails have a slit called a SELENIZONE. | |
| TEREBRATING SHELLS | Those shells which bore into rock or wood; = BORERS. | |
| TUSK SHELL | A SCAPHOPOD shell. Other common names: ELEPHANTS TUSK; BOARS TUSK. | |