Sea Shell
How can I tell how old a sea shell is?
Found a GIANT shell on vaca. How can I tell how old it is or where can i go for someone to tell me how old it is. Thanks in advance.
The average mollusk expands (enlarging it as it grows) its shell every 3 to six months. so if , say a clam is a seedling it will take about one year to grow to about one and a half inches in length. then about half inch every 6 months. If it is a snail , depending on what type , it too grows an average of one to two inches a year. I have a queen conch that measures 9 inches so this particular conch or snail is about 9 to 10 years old.
Some mollusk grow at a slower pace, like scallops it is said that they take 7 years to reach maturity and be able to reproduce. These sizes are about 3 to 4 inches wide or the span of 4 fingers.