Murek Shells
The Murex can have various shapes with a long "tail" and spikes all the way down, and a delicate pink interior. They are hard to find in good condition because they are fragile and the surf usually destroys the spikes.
Olive Shells
Named for its elongated oval shape, the olive comes in a variety of colors and variations, and often sports a glossy finish. Olive shells will sun-bleached white and rarely grow beyond three inches long.
Sand Dollar Shells
While alive, the sand dollar is thin, flat, brown, and bristled with tiny tubes that permit it to breath, move and camouflage itself. Exposed to the sun, Sand dollars will bleach to a beautifully white textured pattern.
Tulip Banded Shell
Banded tulips and their larger, rarer cousins, true tulips, frequently wash up on island shores to the delight of collectors and beach combers who revel in their intriguing patterns and delicately swirling form.
Cockle Shells
The heart cockle is one the most common shells found, though a rarity in other parts of the world. The cockle mollusk is a footed creature that can jump several inches in a single leap. Cockle shells can be quite large.
Lightning Whelk Shells
Large and distinctive, Lightning whelks grow up to 16 inches long. Lightning whelks were used by early island natives for boh food and tools, most commonly as lamps. This species has a left-handed or sinistral shell.
Junonia Shells
This shell is greatly prized for its beauty and apparent rarity by collectors. Its milky chamber is covered with distinctive brown spots on the outside, and the animal that occupies the shell is likewise marked.
Conch Shells
Fighting conchs are the type of conch most commonly found on beaches. While alive, the seashell is a bright orange, but will fade under the bright tropical sunshine. Conch harvesting is now illegal in the state.
Beach Restoration
Beachfront communities in Florida maintain and restores their beaches on a regular basis. In many communities a Beach Cleaner can be seen raking the sand clean and free of debris almost every day.
On average, beach restoration will take place about every 10 years at ten million dollars each time. If you never seen beach restoration done, it is definitely a sight to see.
Florida's Barrier Islands
Barrier islands make up more than 700 miles of Florida’s coastline. They are naturally formed by shifting sands that build upon an existing sandbar to eventually form an island. The sand that has accumulated above the water surface becomes the home for the drifting seeds of beach plants.