Seashells: Jewels from the Ocean - Hardcover

With close-up photography highlighting the shapes, colors, and patterns of these artistic gems, this book also details the mollusks that inhabit different seashells. From the more common bivalves (including clams, mussels, and oysters) and univalves (everything from conches to snails) to the intriguing cephalopods (octopus and squid), Titlow explains the interesting features of all these mollusks and their preferred habitats, diets, and reproduction patterns as well as how they perfectly form such unique shells. Titlow also offers advice to novice beachcombers on the best places to find the most stunning shells, as well as how to preserve their prized collections.

This book is full of zoological and practical seashell information. When coupled with Titlow s

brilliant photography, both amateurs and expert seashell lovers will treasure Seashells: Jewels from the Ocean forever.

From being used as currency and jewelry to tools and communication devices, seashells have captured humankind s imagination since time began. Everyone from the ancient Greeks to Southwestern artist Georgia O Keefe has been inspired by the magnificent spirals these of these shells in their oceanic galleries.

In Seashells: Jewels from the Ocean, wetland biologist and photographer Budd Titlow showcases all the intricate beauty of these natural masterpieces and sheds light on the mollusks that inhabit and create these natural wonders. With close-up photography highlighting the curves, colors, and patterns of stunning seashells, Titlow profiles the many different shell types including univalves, bivalves, cephalopods, chitons, and tusk shells. He also details the morphology, natural habitat, diet, and behavior of the mollusks that form seashells, and chronicles how seashells have been closely tied with human culture for centuries.

As informative as it is visually arresting, this book will appeal to amateur and expert, collector and casual beachcomber. In addition, it offers a guide to the best seashell hunting beaches in North America, where some of the most exquisite shells on earth can be found.