Finding the most-desired shell in Florida

By Kristen Williams

The most-desired seashell in Florida (and I’d argue to say a desired shell for any collector) is the Scaphella junonia. Identified by its beautiful spotted pattern, this shell is a rare find amongst collectors. But the question of how “rare” it is depends on your perception.

The mollusk that creates the beautiful shell lives in waters up to 400 feet deep. These mollusks feed abundantly on other mollusks in their habitat, so the rarity of the junonia shell is not due to the scarcity of the animal itself, but rather how often it appears on the shore. Since their habitat is so deep and far from shore, they are usually seen only after storms with strong winds and currents.

Now there has been talk of the correlation between junonias washing up and shrimping boats in the area. The theory is that the boats pull these shells up from deep water as accidental bycatch that is discarded closer to shore, but the evidence for this theory is not as clear.

I’ll let you in on a secret: I have personally found over 30 junonias! I have 11 in perfect condition and the others are imperfect. This includes cobs, but not pieces. All of these were found in different areas along the Gulf of Mexico from Tampa all the way down to the Ten Thousand Islands.

The key to my success? Searching every opportunity that I get during ultra-low tides and after storms. I have found almost all my junonia shells after storms. Surprisingly, not all the storms were “big,” but they must have been just big enough to bring these beauties in.

I believe a lot of beaches on the Gulf can produce junonia shells, but another key to finding them is being able to spot them (no pun intended)! The spots and colors of the junonia make them challenging to find among other shells, or when partially buried, like a lot of the ones I’ve found. So, you must train your eyes to see them.

One way to do this is to study the shell itself. This can be either with a shell you already have or using a photo of the shell. Pay attention to its shape and its pattern. Memorize it. Try to do this right before you go to the beach to have it top of mind.

If the junonia is the shell you want to find while at the beach, be sure to think of that shell while you’re searching. Look for spots, look for that iconic volute shape. Be ultra-

focused on those images and try not to get distracted by the other shells you see.

This is how you will find this elusive shell. A lot of collectors believe that the junonia “finds you,” but I disagree with that statement. I think anyone can find a junonia if they put the work and thought into searching.

My favorite junonia I’ve found is a beautiful blue I came across in a shell pile. It was mostly buried, and I could not believe the color when I found it! Who knows how long it had to be sitting on the sea floor for it to obtain the stunning blue color.

Even with as many as I’ve found over the years, I still am just as thrilled finding them!

Learn more about seashells

Learn more about identifying shells, the history of seashell collecting, great shelling beaches, and the lives of the animals who make the shells we find on the beach. Articles ›

No live shelling: Be sure shells are empty and sand dollars, sea stars, and sea urchins are no longer alive before you bring them home.

All photos courtesy of Kristen Williams.