Venus Comb Shell

The Venus comb is so named after the Roman Goddess who was said to comb her hair with this unusual shell.

Resembling the skeleton of a fish, no one knows the exact reason for the needle-like spines of this popular collectors seashell.

Scientists have theorised that the spines are a protection against fish and other molluscs, and that the spines prevent it from sinking into the soft, sandy mud where it is commonly found.

Belonging to a very large family of molluscs numbering in excess of 1000 species, the spiny Venus comb (murex pectin) is a species of large predatory sea snail in the family of Muricidae shells which are also known as rock shells.

Please note: It’s almost inevitable that some of the delicate spines may have received some damage during the shells lifetime.

Common to the Indo-Pacific region, white to brown in colour.

Size: approx  9-10 cm long  (3.5 - 4 inches)