Shells A-Z
This is in alphabetical order by common name.
We have used Crowe, Andrew. Mini Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Seashells New Zealand, Penguin, 2010, Paperback.
Please use the comments section at the bottom of the page to make any corrections or to make suggestions for any unclassified shells.
We have used Crowe, Andrew. Mini Guide to the Identification of New Zealand Seashells New Zealand, Penguin, 2010, Paperback.
Please use the comments section at the bottom of the page to make any corrections or to make suggestions for any unclassified shells.
Bold = Common name
Normal = Māori name
Italic = Latin name
Normal = Māori name
Italic = Latin name
Abalone
Pāua
Haliotis iris
Found on the rocky shore.
Lives under rock ledges. Can be over 16 cm long.
Pāua is now used a lot in jewellery.
A popular food. There are heaps of Pāua recipes.
Note that collecting live pāua is controlled by strict size limits.
Pāua
Haliotis iris
Found on the rocky shore.
Lives under rock ledges. Can be over 16 cm long.
Pāua is now used a lot in jewellery.
A popular food. There are heaps of Pāua recipes.
Note that collecting live pāua is controlled by strict size limits.
Common Cat's Eye
Ataata
Turbo smaragdus
Found on the rocky shore.
Common on rocks between the tides. Also widely known as pūpū. As a favourite food of the Maori, it is also known as kaitangata.
Ataata
Turbo smaragdus
Found on the rocky shore.
Common on rocks between the tides. Also widely known as pūpū. As a favourite food of the Maori, it is also known as kaitangata.
Cooks Turban Shell
Pūpū Karikawa
Cookia sulcata
Found on the rocky shore.
Underneath the rocks near low tide.
Pūpū Karikawa
Cookia sulcata
Found on the rocky shore.
Underneath the rocks near low tide.
Golden Limpet (juvenile)
Cellana flava
Found on the rocky shore.
Common on east coast limestone between the tides. Shell pale to bright orange.
Cellana flava
Found on the rocky shore.
Common on east coast limestone between the tides. Shell pale to bright orange.
Radiate Limpet
Ngākihi
Cellana radians
Found on rocky shore.
Ngākihi
Cellana radians
Found on rocky shore.
Morning Star
Tāwera
Tawera spissa
Found on the sandy shore.
Very common, but isn't it pretty?
Tāwera
Tawera spissa
Found on the sandy shore.
Very common, but isn't it pretty?
Large Ostrich Foot
Totorere
Struthiolaria papulosa
Common near low tide.
The warn ring-like remains of the lip of adult shells are commonly washed up on the beach.
Found on sandy shore.
Totorere
Struthiolaria papulosa
Common near low tide.
The warn ring-like remains of the lip of adult shells are commonly washed up on the beach.
Found on sandy shore.
Medium Ostrich Foot
Totorere
Struthiolaria papulosa
We believe that this is a combination between the Large Ostrich Foot and a Small Ostrich Foot.
Found on the sandy shore.
Totorere
Struthiolaria papulosa
We believe that this is a combination between the Large Ostrich Foot and a Small Ostrich Foot.
Found on the sandy shore.
Mussel
Kuku
Kuku
Blue Mussel (fragment)
Toretore
Mytilus edulis
Found on the rocky shore.
Attached to rocks between the tides. More common in the South. Shell blueish black also known as the Black Mussel.
Toretore
Mytilus edulis
Found on the rocky shore.
Attached to rocks between the tides. More common in the South. Shell blueish black also known as the Black Mussel.
Pipi (with barnacles)
Paphies australis
Found on the sandy shore.
Up to 6cm (occasionally 8 cm long).
Buried in salt or sand just below mid-tide where fresh water meets the sea. Shells buried in mud are often stained dark colours. The Maori name is used throughout tropical Polynesia for specific local hinged shellfish.
Paphies australis
Found on the sandy shore.
Up to 6cm (occasionally 8 cm long).
Buried in salt or sand just below mid-tide where fresh water meets the sea. Shells buried in mud are often stained dark colours. The Maori name is used throughout tropical Polynesia for specific local hinged shellfish.
Rock Oyster
Tio Repe
Saccostrea cucullata
Found on the rocky shore.
Found from about Christchurch North, cemented to rock below high tide.
Tio Repe
Saccostrea cucullata
Found on the rocky shore.
Found from about Christchurch North, cemented to rock below high tide.
Curved Scallop
Tipa
Pecten novaezelandiae
Found on the sandy shore
Note that one of the scallop is curved (shown here)
The Maori names tipa and tupa refer to the fact that these shells snap shut make a quick jet-powered escape.
Tipa
Pecten novaezelandiae
Found on the sandy shore
Note that one of the scallop is curved (shown here)
The Maori names tipa and tupa refer to the fact that these shells snap shut make a quick jet-powered escape.
Flat Scallop
Tipa
Pecten novaezelandiae
Found on the sandy shore.
Note that one of the sides of the scallop is flat (shown here). The Maori names tipa and tupa refer to the fact that these shells snap shut make a quick jet-powered escape.
Tipa
Pecten novaezelandiae
Found on the sandy shore.
Note that one of the sides of the scallop is flat (shown here). The Maori names tipa and tupa refer to the fact that these shells snap shut make a quick jet-powered escape.
Pale Tiger Shell
Calliostoma zelandica
Found on the sandy shore
Paler and not as tall as a tiger shell.
Calliostoma zelandica
Found on the sandy shore
Paler and not as tall as a tiger shell.
Ringed Venus Shell
Tuangi Haruru
Dosinia anus
Found on the sandy shore.
Grooved like a gramophone record. Common in sand near low tide. Often washed up after storms.
Tuangi Haruru
Dosinia anus
Found on the sandy shore.
Grooved like a gramophone record. Common in sand near low tide. Often washed up after storms.
Knobbed Whelk
Kākara
Austrofusus glans
Found on the sandy shore.
On fine sand or silty mud at or below low tide. The shell has knobs along the shoulder.
Today the shell is used for fancy doorknobs by the Māori.
Kākara
Austrofusus glans
Found on the sandy shore.
On fine sand or silty mud at or below low tide. The shell has knobs along the shoulder.
Today the shell is used for fancy doorknobs by the Māori.
Spotted Whelk
Cominella maculosa
Found on the muddy shore.
Very common between north of Dunedin, in mud between the tides. Shell greenish-yellow with dark square dots. Also called spotted mud whelk.
Cominella maculosa
Found on the muddy shore.
Very common between north of Dunedin, in mud between the tides. Shell greenish-yellow with dark square dots. Also called spotted mud whelk.
#1 Unclassified
#2 Unclassified
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#14 Unclassified