When you find a shell on the sand, the sea has actually tossed you a small cathedral. Words associated with cathedrals and boats describe the geometry of shells.
Two small cone shells that I found on Boracay Island in the Philippines illustrate nature's artistry. This artistry is so detailed that it is evident in two sculptures under 3 cm tall.
The definition of cone shells revolves around their geometric characteristics.
- A spire: any spun element of the shell apart from the main body. Both my orange and brown cone shells have spires. The spire section of the orange cone shell takes up about 30% of the shell's length. The spire section of the brown cone shell takes up about 15% of the shell's length.
- The shoulder of cone shells may be smooth, coronate or crown-like, or carinate, having a keel. The shoulder is the edge of the body whorl before the spire begins. A keel is a sharp raised ridge. Both of my shells seem to have a smooth shoulder.
- A smooth body whorl with a few sulci: the body whorl is the largest complete turn of the shell. Both of my shells are smooth. They do have furrows or grooves that go around the whorl. These are the sulci.
- Narrow aperture. The aperture is the opening of the shell. These shells are so small and the apertures are so narrow that I can't begin to hear the sea.
