Close up detail of a small melon shell (bailer shell). This one is about 1.5 inch across the end you see here.

Melo diadema thrive in relatively shallow waters and prefer to inhabit muddy bottoms often around mangrove swamps.

Thanks to shadowshador for correcting my id.

Studio 26 assignment - taste of flickr, macro monday.

Tags:   melo diadema baler volute melon shell bailer shell sea snail macro close up NikonD7000 nikkor 85mm F/3.5G AF-S ED VR micro

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I have long wanted a half cut nautilus shell but have resisted the temptation until now, when I realised that many online shops have stopped selling them because of concerns about the species being under threat, though not yet listed as endangered. I did make sure that I bought from a supplier which states that it only buys from approved sources.

Having survived relatively unchanged for millions of years, nautilus are often considered to be "living fossils”, indeed ammonites are a related extinct species.

When seen from the top, the natural shell is darker in colour and marked with irregular stripes, which makes it blend into the darkness of the water below. Conversely, the underside is almost completely white, making it indistinguishable from brighter waters near the ocean’s surface. Whilst the shells frequent waters around 300m below the surface, the shell is capable of withstanding pressures down to 500m.

As the nautilus matures its body moves forward, sealing the chamber behind it. The last fully open chamber being used as the living chamber.

I'm not happy with the lighting in this shot - the shell is much more beautiful in reality.

118 pictures in 2018 (38) from the sea

and shot 67/100 for my Lensbaby project

Smile on Saturday 'white on white' theme.

Tags:   nautilus shell nautilidae half cut chambers spiral Nikon D7000 lensbaby lensbaby composer pro sweet 50 optic lensbaby love mother of pearl 100 x: The 2018 Edition 100x:2018 Image 67/100 67/100x 2018 118 pictures in 2018 (38) from the sea 52WeeksforNotDogs 31/52 white on white smile on saturday

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116 pictures in 2016 (13) shells

Texture is by MAT texturonline

Tags:   sea shells shells nikon D7000 lensbaby lensbaby composer pro sweet 50 optic 116 pictures in 2016 (13) shells lensbaby love

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A centre cut slice of a small pink murex shell.
Shot 9/100

Tags:   pink murex hexaplex erythrostomus shell slice on black macro close up Nikon D7000 nikkor 85mm F/3.5G AF-S ED VR micro 100 x: The 2019 Edition 100x:2019 Image 9/100 100x 2019 9/100

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Macro Mondays 'natural shells' theme.

Definitely Dreaming 'empty' theme, 13/52

A 'Cloth of Gold' shell (conus textile). When down in the deep blue seas of warm tropical waters these are one of the most dangerous sea shells to handle.

This shell measures 1.5" at the widest point

Shot 18/100x (the second shot for my changed 'x', now indoor shots)

Tags:   macro mondays natural shells cloth of gold shell cone shell shell cloth of gold conus textile macro close up pattern texture Nikon D7000 nikkor 85mm F/3.5G AF-S ED VR micro definitely dreaming empty 13/52 100 x: The 2020 Edition 100x:2020 Image 18/100 18/100x 2020

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