Seashells Of The Caribbean - Tapa blanda

The nature of the marine shell fauna of the Caribbean is extremely diverse, seeking shelter beneath the sand of beaches, under the rocks of coastal areas, in the soft deep mud of estuaries, in dark submarine caves, in the thick growths of marine prairies, and under branches of vast coral outcrops. It remains unobtrusive and often difficult to discover. Each species has its geographical distribution and populations vary in size, shape and colour according to environment; some animals migrate seasonally far afield. Tidal movement in the Caribbean is unspectacular other than during the spring and autumn equinoxes when shallow reefs and sand flats emerge briefly. The intertidal zone remains stable and undisturbed, with the exception of the passage of tropical storms and hurricanes, governing the lives of many gastropods and bi-valves. Some of the world's rarest shells live in West Indian waters: the Golden Cowrie, the Leaf Winged Murex and the Glory of the Atlantic Cone. The Pink Queen Conch and King Helmet shells are still abundant in shallow waters. Numerous miniature, finely sculptured shells are mixed with the fine sands of tidelines which act as a boundary sea and shore. This guide introduces amateurs and collectors to an intertidal and shallow water fauna from the West Indies.