Size: The entire specimen becomes a lumpy mound that is sometimes as large as a man's head
Shape: Unknown
Color: The sponge that causes the damage sen in this specimen is bright yellow. It is woody and brown when it dries after it is washed up on the beach.
Habitat: Oyster reefs, near shore, infaunal
Range: Canada to the Gulf
Occurrence: Common
Additional Information: This sponge uses waste products to penetrate oyster shells. It can destroy oyster reefs or clams very quickly by making holes in the shells until it fragments them.
Shape: Different shapes are used to categorize seashells to help identify them.
Habitat: Habitat describes where you are most likely to find the shell. Epifaunal shells normally live above the surface. Infaunal shells are usually concealed below the surface. Semi-infaunal shells are partly concealed in the surface.
Occurrence: The four categories of: rare, uncommon, fairly common, and common are estimates of how often a certain shell might be found along the beach. These estimates vary depending on the book used to find this information.
Photo: The seashells photographed for these web pages are in The Dr. Don Bass Galveston Bay Regional Shell and Geologic Collection donated to Clifton Middle School.
Resources: Beachcombers's Guide to the Gulf Coast Marine Life by Nick Fotheringham and Susan Brunenmeister, Eyewitness Handbooks: Shells by S. Peter Dance, Peterson Field Guides: Southeastern and Caribbean Seashores by Eugene H. Kaplan, Science Hobby Book of Shell Collecting by Miriam Gilbert, Simon & Schuster's Guide to Shells by Bruno Sabelli, Texas Monthly Field Guide to Shells of the Texas Coast by Jean Andrews, Texas Shells by Jean Andrews
Page Design: This page was created by Sixth Grade Clifton Middle School Computer Literacy Students: B.K.R.-527, S.E.T.-530, J.L.T.-529, J.A.F.-607, J.R.H.-314.
Please send comments to: Jane A. Holzapfel
Clifton Middle School
Houston Independent School District
6001 Golden Forest Drive
Houston, Texas 77092-2359
(713) 613-2516 x396
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