For instance, the Golden Cowrie , Cypraea aurantium, is really not golden, but orange in color. Many species of mollusks have shells that vary considerably in color , form and shape. In many cases, specimens of the same species from far-flung geographical localities look so different, that researchers have mistakenly renamed the variant as a new species. Gastropods are single coiled shells. Bivalves are made up of two shells attached by a hinge.
Chitons are primitive mollusks with eight shells held together by a fleshy girdle.
The rarest shell is the one not yet discovered. Worldwide Conchology is not a sales list. This non-commercial Web resource contains hundreds of digital images of the world's most beautiful and exotic marine, land, and freshwater shells. The popular digital shell image gallery is now expanded and improved for easier access and greater navigability. Worldwide Conchology continues in the tradition of the commercial Web site by illustrating high quality digital shell images, with an expanded focus on shells from private collections, museums and other conchological sources.