When you find a pretty shell on the beach, do you ever wonder what creature once lived inside?
Maybe you have seen these pretty thin,shiny translucent shells. They range in iridescent colors from pale pink and to golden shades.
The shells are most commonly known as Jingle Shells, named for the sound they make when they cling together like bells. They are also called mermaid toenails.
A saltwater clam or ‘anomia’ once called these shells home. You are likely never to find anomia clams on you dinner plate, because of their bitter taste. The bitter taste may be because the shells are so thin and absorbent. The shape of the shell is determined by the object it lies on in the ocean.
Among some of the uses for these beautiful coin-like shells is jewelry and decorative items such as lampshades and wind chimes. What will you create with Jingle Shells?
