Striped Venus at Studland

These paired empty valves of a bivalve mollusc, seemingly cushioned by the fine wet glinting sand, are from the Striped Venus shell, Chamelea gallina (Linnaeus). They were cast up by the retreating tide at Studland Bay, Dorset. Pinkish fans of colour radiate out from the hinge area while delicately drawn zig-zags of darker brown cross the concentric bands and grooves.

In the photograph below, taken indoors, a shell of the same sort displays these exquisite details more clearly.