Elephant Tusk Shell
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Scaphopoda, Order: Dentaliida, Family: Dentaliidae, Genus: Dentalium, Species: Dentalium elephantinum · Dentaliidae (Tusk Shell family) · Scaphopod (tusk shell), whole shell, tubular and slightly curved shape
Species
Dentalium elephantinum
Shell Type
Scaphopod (tusk shell), whole shell, tubular and slightly curved shape
Family
Dentaliidae (Tusk Shell family)
Size
Approximately 2.5 inches in length. This is an average size for the species, which typically ranges from 2 to 4 inches.
Color & Pattern
Distinctive dark green to olive coloration near the wider posterior end, fading into a translucent cream or yellowish-white toward the sharp anterior tip. Fine longitudinal ribs run the entire length of the tube.
Rarity
Common in its native region, but intact large specimens with good coloration are prized finds for collectors.
Habitat
Inhabits shallow to moderately deep subtidal waters, burying itself vertically or at an angle in soft muddy or sandy sediments on the ocean floor.
Geographic Range
Indo-Pacific region, notably around Indonesia, the Maluku Islands, the Philippines, and northern Australia.
Description
An elegant, tapering tubular shell curved like a miniature elephant's tusk. It features prominent longitudinal ribs running from end to end, giving it a fluted cross-section. The wider end serves as the posterior opening, while the narrower tip acts as the anterior opening through which the mollusk extends its feeding structures.
Key Features
Distinctive dark green coloring, tubular and tapering elephant-tusk shape, slight natural curvature, and prominent longitudinal ribs.
Collector Value
Moderately valued by specialist shell collectors. While not rare globally, specimens featuring the vibrant green coloration characteristic of Dentalium elephantinum are particularly desirable.
Condition Notes
Good condition. The shell is intact with minor natural wear at the narrower tip, and the characteristic green-to-cream color gradient is well-preserved. Collectibility grade: Fine.
Interesting Facts
Scaphopods are unique mollusks that lack gills, eyes, and a heart. Instead, they breathe through their mantle tissue and use microscopic tentacle-like structures called captacula to catch microscopic prey like foraminifera in the sediment.
Ecological Role
Functions as an infaunal bioturbator, helping to aerate marine sediments by burrowing. They serve as a food source for bottom-feeding fish, crabs, and carnivorous sea snails.
Similar Species
Dentalium vulgare (Common Tusk Shell), which lacks the prominent green coloration and tends to be more uniformly white or grayish.
Beach Finding Tips
Tusk shells are rarely found whole on high-energy beaches due to their fragility. The best places to look are in shell grit, sifted fine sand, or by diving in shallow sandy bays in the Indo-Pacific.
Notes
Maluku