Note to readers: Multiple generations of a family of shell collectors gathered earlier this summer in Southwest Florida, combing the beaches on Captiva and Sanibel looking to add to their collections.

From kids walking on the beach to major museums, the amazing diversity of conch shells have captivated the eyes of collectors. And with more than 50,000 estimated living species bearing a shell, ...

Mollusks add daily to the margins of their shells, producing intricate patterns prized by beachcombers. Though this seems complex, the process can actually be explained by a simple network of nerve ...