Hi David:
It is not uncommon to find foreign shells on tourist beaches, whereas parents
will often buy shells at a shop on then seed the beach with them for their
small children to find.  Of course in the process a few will get lost along the
way.

There have also been instances of beach shell shops getting trashed by a storm
and loosing their inventory to the sea, where it in turn ends up on the beaches.
Leslie



> Folks,
>
> I spent some time in Sarasota, FL last weekend. Between downpours I was able
> to pick up a few shells.
>
> On the south end of Long Boat Key, practically the first shell I saw was a
> beachworn valve of Tellidora cristata. Splendid, because I never encountered
> any before!
>
> And very close to it was, unmistakeably, Strombus urceus.
>
> Someone must have been out walking their pet hermit crab when it slipped the
> leash.
>
> Other pet theories?
>
> David Kirsh
>