Fun At The Coast

Discover NC's Spectacular Sea Shells

A sunrise walk on a North Carolina beach offers a wealth of seashells, treasures from the sea for those willing to get up early. Our coast is home for as many as 1,000 species of mollusks, whose outer coverings or skeletons are commonly called seashells.

Where’s the best place to find shells in North Carolina? Shell collectors say Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Ocracoke Island, Cape Lookout National Seashore, Shackleford Banks, Hammocks Beach State Park near Bogue Sound, and the inlets near Wrightsville Beach are all excellent places to find these treasures. You can find shells here year-round, but in early spring after a storm or during hurricane season are particularly good times for shelling. One hour before and one hour after low tide are prime shelling time.

We’ve put together a guide to help you identify the discoveries you are sure to make here. Let’s start with North Carolina’s state shell, the Scotch Bonnet. The creamy white-colored shell has yellowish brown squares in rows and 20 spiral grooves on the body. It ranges in size from 1-1/2 inches to 4 inches.

A giant version of the Scotch Bonnet is called the Queen Helmet. This 4 to 10-inch shell is mostly cream colored outside with a rich chocolate brown interior. The lip, also called the shield, is large and contains 10 “teeth.”

The grayish white Lightning Whelk has uneven purple brown streaks and can be recognized by its left-handed spiral. It can range in size from 4 to 16 inches.

A collector favorite is the Channeled Whelk. Purple streaks lace the creamy yellow gray surface of this 8- to 12-inch shell.

Keyhole Sand Dollars are often found on North Carolina beaches. These round sea urchins are tan to light brown and have five slots that look like keyholes. They range in size from 5- to 6-inches.

North Carolina is the northern edge of the Giant Tun’s range. This 5 to 7-inch long shell is a rarity due to its fragile nature. It has a very thin shell and is white to light brown in color.

After a winter storm is the best time to find the Saw-Toothed Pen Shell. Thin and fragile, its 6 to 10-inch shell is ridged and is a deep, smoky brown.

The carnivorous Moon Snail consumes 3 to 4 small clams per day. Its 2- to 3-1/2-inch shell has 4 or 5 whorls and is typically lead gray with a glossy finish.

Banded Tulips have a moderately thin shell and a smooth exterior. Colors range from pearly gray with splotches of olive green or tan. It may also have dark brown bands in parallel lines around the shell. It can be from 2- to 4- inches.

If you just can’t pull yourself out of bed early enough to beat the other shell collectors, here’s a suggestion: go to the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Besides a variety of exhibits on maritime heritage, the museum has an impressive collection of more than 1,000 seashells and they often take visitors on guided natural history tours.

Learn more about Cape Lookout Shells here.

added: December 15, 2008

updated: March 11, 2009