The Colour of shells

Sea shells are formed by the process of bio-mineralization where living organisms produce inorganic solids. Sea shells are the protective layers of marine animals called molluscs and other sea animals. Shells are mostly made of calcium carbonate with a little bit of protein.

The colour of a sea shell acts as a camouflage, hiding small animals from their predators.The different shell colouring and patterns also helps species communicate with each other. Impurities like metabolic waste products that are present when the shell is being formed, gives the shell a different colour. Even what these little animals eat affect the colour of their shells. The food that the mollusc eats causes the little animal to produce pigments. If the pigment is secreted continuously it creates a spiral or radial band but if it is periodic the shell develops sports or flecks. Shells that are red in colour usually have carotene or pterodines in them. Brown and black hues are found in shells that have melanin in them. Some shell fish can even change their colour to hide on the seabed when predators are near.

Here are some examples of my work of shells, where I consider them as jewels, multifaceted and magical.

Above and below - The New Zealand green lipped mussels 'Perna canalicula'

Below - Conch Shell - study of the spiral domed shape.