Most marine animals form their shells from calcium carbonate, which is a tough mineral also found in limestone. Some sponges ...

A sea turtle’s shell is living bone fused directly to its spine and ribs. It is not a detachable shield or an external case, ...

Before you hit the Jersey Shore this summer, it may be wise to think twice if you happen upon a massive whelk shell on the beach that your kid wants to take home. Or even a live sand dollar, which ...

Oceans are nature's beauties best left untouched, especially the shores. The shores, dusted in powdery Sun-baked sand, are often dotted with dry dunes, rocky cliffs, and clusters of pebbles slick with ...

Having recently spent several quiet days on nearly empty beaches along the New Jersey shore, I was taken by the beauty of what had to be millions of broken shells and fragments scattered along the ...

The sea creature arrived at San Diego's Birch Aquarium in 2014 Ingrid Vasquez is a Digital News Writer at PEOPLE. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor in Journalism.

A version of this story was originally published in 2023. Before you hit the Jersey Shore this summer, it may be wise to think twice if you happen upon a massive whelk shell on the beach that your kid ...