Kythera-Family.net - for the world-wide Kytherian community: Seashells

The Gastropod is a mollusc that lives in a single shell that usually coils in a spiral pattern. The Gastropod has a well developed head and a broad, flattened foot, and sometimes closes itself into its shell with a little horny door called an operculum.

The Gastropods include the limpets, wormshells, moon snails, cowries, tritons, doves, cones, and murex.

Historically, the most important Gastropod on Kythera is the Spiny Murex, which contains a gland that secretes a bright purple liquid. In ancient times, islanders made an expensive purple dye from this shell, which was then called porphyra. It became so important economically that Kythera was called Porphyroussa, or Purple Island, after this shell.

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	1	Lurid Cowrie The Lurid Cowrie, Cypraea lurida, is not as mottled as the other cowries, but just as shiny, with faint bands of lighter and... submitted by Museum Administration on 23.10.2003

	2	Slit-Limpets A type of sea-snail, the Slit-Limpet, Emarginula elongata, gets its food by browsing for algae. 1.5 and 1.8 cm long.... submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	3	Keyhole Limpet The Keyhole Limpet, Diodora italica, clings to rocks in shallow water. 4.8 cm long. Photograph © James Prineas, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	4	Keyhole Limpet Line-up A chorus line of tiny Keyhole Limpets, Diodora gibbula, all around 1 cm long. Photograph © James Prineas, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	5	Mediterranean Limpets Patella coerulea, the Mediterranean Limpet, attaches firmly to rocks very close to shore. 2.5 and 4 cm long. Photograph ©... submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	6	Rustic Limpets Patella rustica, these Limpets are 1.5 to 3.5 cm long. Photograph © James Prineas, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	7	Lusitanica Limpet Limpet identification is difficult and frequently requires expert knowledge. This specimen, 4 cm long, might be a Patella... submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	8	Limpets inside and out Mediterranean Limpets, Patella caerulea, showing both conical tops and the dark, nacreous center of the shell's interior.... submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	9	Green Ormer The Green Ormer, Haliotis tuberculata, is happily quite common on Kythera. Its surface is finely etched and less sculptural... submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	10	Green Ormer, interior The Green Ormer, Haliotis tuberculata has a lovely, green-tinged, mother-of-pearl interior. Photograph © James Prineas, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	11	Common Ormer The outside of the Common Ormer, Haliotis lamellosa, has a sculpted, creased and darkly mottled appearance. Photograph ©... submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	12	Common Ormers, interior The inside of the Common Ormer, Haliotis lamellosa, is lined with gorgeous mother-of-pearl. Photograph © James Prineas, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	13	Three Rough Stars Three Rough Star Shells, Astrea rugosa, in various stages of cleaning. At the top, an uncleaned shell as found in nature; to... submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	14	Rough Star Shell Rough Star Shell, Astrea rugosa, 4.5 cm in diameter. Photograph © James Prineas, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	15	Calcerous Rough Star An uncleaned Rough Star Shell, Astrea rugosa, shows the bumpy, calcerous coating and thorny spirals typical of this species.... submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	16	Opercula of Rough Stars The Rough Star Shell, Astrea rugosa, has a brilliant orange operculum, the little door that allows the snail to close itself... submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	17	Rough Star with Operculum Rough Star Star, Astrea rugosa,, with the operculum set in place to show how the snail closes itself safely and snugly into... submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	18	Thick Top Shells The Thick Top Shell, Monodonta articulata, is very commonly found on rocks in the shallow waters of Kythera. These specimens... submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	19	Three Cowries Some beautiful Cowries of the species Cypraea spurca, whose naturally glossy shells give them a polished appearance. 3 - 3.5... submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

	20	Smiling Cowrie The underside of a Lurid Cowrie,Cypraea lurida, showing its silly grin. 4.5 cm long. Photograph © James Prineas, 2003 submitted by Museum Administration on 17.10.2003

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Popular Seashells - Gastropods

Some beautiful Cowries of the species <I>Cypraea spurca</I>, whose naturally glossy shells give them a polished appearance. 3 - 3.5 cm long. <I>Photograph © James Prineas, 2003</I>

Three Cowries

The underside of a Lurid Cowrie,<I>Cypraea lurida</I>, showing its silly grin. 4.5 cm long. <I>Photograph © James Prineas, 2003</I>

Smiling Cowrie