I recently came across some fascinating shells that fall under the category of snow flakes and humans: no two appear to be alike.

For this exhibit, I selected twenty-five pieces from a bag of 600 or more shells. Then I looked into another bag of over a thousand smaller shells. Whether it was color or pattern, there was always something that differentiated one from the next. No two were exactly the same. Click on the photo collage below and you will see what I mean.

This shell is known as the Vittina Waigiensis a.k.a. Neritina Communis, first discovered in 1831. They are abundantly found in the indo-pacific region and the most intensely colored ones appear to be found in the Philippines. (Special thanks to shell gurus Tom Eichhorst and Kath Szabo.)

Why do specimens from the same species need to have unique patterns and colors? What’s the variation for? This question remains a mystery to researchers today. But for those of us who believe nothing ever happens by chance, we already know the answer. Enjoy.