Wednesday, March 3, 2010

White Shell Wednesday

We are thawing out from our snowy weather so rarely seen in Atlanta even though we truly  had our share this season.  Today the sky is brilliant blue and a perfect day for a white shell Wednesday.  (but then in my sea witchy world, any day is a great day for shells).  Shells are magical to me in their beauty, in both their strength and fragility and their unique shapes.  When I look at and hold shells in my hands I must ask the question, how can anyone deny a creator's existance when such gentle beauty is found in worldly abundance.  One of my favorite shells is the Venus Comb Murex.


Another one of those incredibly delicate looking and brilliant white sea shells that house a marine gastropod (fancy words for slug or snail).  Like the Wentletrap, the Venus Comb Murex seashell is common to the Indo-Pacific region.  This is a stunning, white shell with its slender spines along its entire length often resembling the skelton of a fish. 
A rather large, predator-scavanger species which usually feeds on other smaller mollusks and prefers to live in intertidal or shallow subtidal waters with sandy or muddy bottoms. It usually sports more than a hundred sharp spines. Perfect specimens are rare, because of the fragility of those numerous, long spines.  The spines provide protection from maurading fish who look to eat the creature that lives inside this spectacular housing.  Although the spines can hinder the movement of the creature the spines also prevent the mollusk from sinking into the soft, sandy mud where it is most commonly found.  

X-ray of the Venus Comb Murex.  Such a visually romantic name, can you not see Venus rising from the sea and utilizing such a seashell to comb her long locks?  If not Venus, then certainly a Sea Witch.

This is one of the shells that I hope to find one day.  Perhaps on a dive trip to the Indo-China region and the opportunity to take a leisurely stroll along the soft, sandy/muddy beach and happen across this shell as a few spines are exposed to the surface.  Oh, how I can romantize a walk on the beach.  Have a lovely day all. Sea Witch 

11 comments:

The Country Nest said...

Good Morning Sea witch,
I just wanted to drop a note to let you know I was going to borrow something from you....something I would rather not need to borrow and wish you did not have a need for it either. I was so touched by your one star flag. I have one hanging by my back door. I have taken it down with great relief once and wish I had no need to put it back. Don't get me wrong I am so proud of my son and his brave choice, I would just rather have him home safe and sound. I will keep your son in my prayers along with my own and all the other soldiers protecting us. So Thank you for the loan of your graphic and I can't wait until we can both remove it from our blog.
Big hugs,
Donna

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

I love it when you wax poetic. You have such a lovely way of presenting information on all things sea witchy. love it. And yes, I can see Venus using this stunner as her comb.

seanymph said...

I loveeeee shells too. Must be the mermaid in me. This one is stunning but then its always so hard to choose just one. Now that I live by the sea, Im hoping in time to start a great collection. Maybe Ill get lucky and find one of these.

Garden Antqs Vintage said...

Such beauty from the sea. At first I thought it was some kind of spider until I clicked on your post. Thanks for sharing, T

deb christensen said...

thanks for a wonderful break from the blizzard outside my window...

Tristan Robin said...

beautiful spiny shells! so ready to be used in art work LOL

Barb said...

Hi Sea Witch,

Shells are magical, you are right on that one. Maybe someday I will see those up close and personal.
Until then, I'll just keep dreamin on.

big hugs,
Barb

Bettyann said...

oh so lovely on a day like this..you are a font of information, always interesting..tell me more "oh story-teller from the sea"..

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

Oh my gosh that is just so incredibly beautiful! Nature never stops amazing me. That would truly be an incredible find!
hugs and friends,
shell

Jacque said...

Good Morning Witch,

WOW..that is a beauty!! IT certainly does look like a comb. I hope that you find one of your own some day. I can see you combing your hair with one!

I can't wait for you to share your French heritage with us one day. You have such a lovely way with words and I know it will be great reading. I just love History, especially family history!

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse today! Have a great week.

Bunty said...

These shells are lovely. I have two of these surprisingly, which I bought when were on holiday in Sanibel, Florida in the late 1980's. They are so fragile yet spiky and are in my display cabinet along with my other treasures.

To find them naturally on the beach must be very exciting. Good luck!

Barbara