Rose Petal Tellin
We had some south East wind gusts yesterday and today so I figured that the best place to shell was near the pier. We found a few various minis but nothing new….. until I came across this ROSE PETAL TELLIN.
2 Rose Petal Tellins
Then I found her sister. I can’t look at these shells with out thinking of last year’s SANIBEL SHELL FAIR AND SHOW. These are the perfect shells for making sailors valentines but you need lots of them to make an impact. Take a look at what shell crafter David Rhyne does with these types of beautiful colorful shells.
David Rhyne Sailors Valentine
and this one….
David Rhyne’s Sailors Valentine
Just looking at the Shell Fair pictures from last year is getting me very excited about this years show coming up very soon running from March 3- 5. For more info click on Sanibel Community House. Hope to see you there!
Sanibel is a special place for all seashell lovers. I wish to participate in Sanibel Seashell show in a third time. I am really miss so many my good friends and talented people during whole year.
How can you tell the difference between a Coquina and a Tellin? I would have thought that was a Coquina. Wow they are so pretty! And those Sailor’s valentines are beautiful! Have you ever made one?
That’s such a good question and now I wish I had put them side by side for you to see. A rose petal tellin is fatter and had a slightly different shape than the coquina which have a slender shape. Yes, now that I look back at the pictures I took of them on the beach, because they aren’t flat on the sand, you can’t see the true wider shape. hmmmmm. I’ll see what I can do. Thanks Kelli for your question!
I agree with Pam’s comments. Although the pictures of the Coquina (Donax variabilis) and the Rose Petal Tellin (Eurytellina lineata) may look similar, there are a number of (morphologic) differences in size, shape and thickness of the shell as well as differences in the hinges and the muscle scars (internal shell surface where the mollusk’s muscles attach to the shell). Having said the above, the simplist way to separate these two shells is that the Rose Petal Tellin is usually larger and more “delicate” (thinner) than the Coquina. The Rose Petal Tellin is usually found in the calmer, bay areas around Sanibel Island, like on the bay side of the pier at the Sanibel lighthouse and rarely found on the gulf beaches. The Coquina is usually found on the gulf beaches and is unusual on the bay side of Sanibel. For those wanting to find the Rose Petal Tellins, you can also find them at the end of Dixie Beach Road and on the bay side of Blind Pass. Although many people think that the Rose Petal Tellin only is the dark pink color, there are an equal number of almost completely white ones and some with pink and orange rays. They are a beautiful shell. Pam, I am pleased that you are looking more closely at the smaller shells. They truly are small wonders.
Dear Pam,
I cross my heart I’ve never seen a blog post that didn’t blow me away. I’ve loved Sailors Valentines for a number of years. I had dinner this even with one of our Social media Gentlemen and promised I would send him a copy of your link.
Tonight once again you’ve given me a perfect opportunity.
Cheers.
Lisa
I found my first rose petal tellins on Marco a few weeks back. I too thought they were just big coquinas. They are the prettiest little shell.
http://shellmuseum.org/shells/shelldetails.cfm?id=242
http://shellmuseum.org/shells/shelldetails.cfm?id=255
His Sailor’s Valentines are so beautiful!!! Such patience and creativity!!! And the Rose Petal Tellins you found are really perfect!!! Thank you for sharing these photos:)
When I look at the sailors valentines I forget that their made out of seashells, their just so beautiful. We found only a few Rose Tellins in January, the alternate tellins were more plentiful. We started finding them last Nov. on the causeway, on the Sanibel side where the water is calmer.
On my most recent visit to the island, I found 18 ( I think) rose tellin pairs, but most of them were out on the flats. Beautiful shells! I had to pack them carefully to get them home safely, but managed to do so. As always, thanks for all your great reports and photos, Pam.
Hoping when we retire to Tampa, I can make it down to Sanibel for the Shell Fair. Sounds like incredible fun being in a crowd of shell lovers.
In December I found rose tellins at the causeway bridge beach (does that beach have a name?) on the side facing the lighthouse.
I think you had the perfect name for it- Sanibel causeway bridge beach. I need to get there more often
What does it mean, “Out on the flats.” ??
It means very shallow waters….. sand bars on the open water. When you see sand bars that only get exposed in a very low tide, we call them “flats”. Hope that helps.
I wish I knew about the Shell Fair. We are arriving March 8th – a day too late. Maybe next year!
i love this post!! if only i could fly to sanibel right now… that would be lovely! :)
hope you are having a great weekend!