The Operculum of a Gastropod. And the Abalone.

At the beach, Little Bay, in Sydney,  I found some pieces from seashells, namely the operculum, the door which the animal uses to open and shut its opening.  It has the mark of a perfect SPIRAL.
The idea is to study how to make a model of this and to elucidate the Numbers!

1.  a drawing,  and the real thing, next.
Size may be 2 cm or so.

2. the underside,  which would  have strong muscles from the mollusc's mantle attached to it.

3.  the outside of the operculum,   and a crochet hyperbolic fibonacci fan-----one can see how it naturally configures its shape just so....  more images to follow.....

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4.  A Real Abalone seashell with pearly inside,  nacre,   which is said to be made of Calcium minerals and a protein, lustrin.

5.  The outside of the abalone shell has red coral growing on it!  And little barnacles, and a tube worm with hard case, like Galeolaria maybe.  You can see the outer rim has spiracles, respiratory holes.    One day we might be able to discover how to make a model of this Shell.

Wonderful Oceania!   One can only marvel and admire.


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