Atlantic Jingle Shell, Mermaid's Tears, Gold Shell
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Bivalvia, Order: Ostreida, Family: Anomiidae, Genus: Anomia, Species: Anomia simplex · Anomiidae (Jingle Shell family) · Bivalve (single upper valve shown); rounded to irregular disc shape.
Species
Anomia simplex
Shell Type
Bivalve (single upper valve shown); rounded to irregular disc shape.
Family
Anomiidae (Jingle Shell family)
Size
Approximately 0.75 - 1.0 inch (20-25 mm) in diameter based on human hand scale; well within the typical adult range of 0.5 to 2 inches.
Color & Pattern
Translucent golden-yellow to amber hues with a pearly, iridescence (nacreous) luster. Surface displays fine wavy radial lines and faint concentric growth rings with a distinct whitish central muscle scar area.
Rarity
Very Common along the Atlantic Coast and barrier island beaches like Oak Island, NC.
Habitat
Marine intertidal and shallow subtidal waters attached to hard substrates like rocks, pilings, oyster beds, and other shells via a calcified byssus.
Geographic Range
Western Atlantic from Nova Scotia, Canada, southward through the US East Coast (including North Carolina) to Brazil and the Gulf of Mexico.
Description
This specimen is a translucent, paper-thin, upper valve of an Atlantic Jingle Shell. It features a bright amber-gold coloration with an iridescent sheen that catches the light like mother-of-pearl. The valve has a wavy, slightly irregular margin with delicate sculpturing of concentric growth lines and minor radial ribs, featuring a visible central muscle scar mark on the interior.
Key Features
Thin, translucent, paper-like texture with pearly iridescent sheen; irregular circular shape; distinctive central white muscle scars; lower valve typically has a hole (foramen) for the byssal plug (though only the upper valve is shown here).
Collector Value
Low monetary value due to extreme abundance, but highly prized by beachcombers, craft makers, and jewelers for their stunning natural metallic sheen and brilliant colors.
Condition Notes
Good condition. The shell maintains excellent natural color and brilliant luster. The delicate outer margins show minor chugging/wear consistent with beach washing, but the overall disc structure remains fully intact.
Interesting Facts
When strung together on a cord or shaken in a jar, these delicate shells make a light ringing or jingling chime sound, which gave them their common name 'Jingle Shell'. They are also poetically known as 'Mermaid's Tears' because of their delicate, translucent beauty.
Ecological Role
Filter feeders that clean coastal water by straining plankton and organic detritus. They serve as prey for crabs, sea stars, and predatory snails, and their attached shells provide habitat micro-niches for small benthic organisms.
Similar Species
Prickly Jingle Shell (Anomia aculeata), which features small spines or scales; Kitten's Paw (Plicatula gibbosa), which is much thicker with prominent radiating ribs.
Beach Finding Tips
Look along the high tide drift line on sandy beaches after a storm or strong tide. On Oak Island, NC, they often wash up mixed in with shell hash, sea oats wrack, or near pier pilings.
Notes
Oak Island NC