I have long been fascinated with sinistral or left-handed shells, and today I found one on Ebay! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

This is some form of apple snail but the difference is that, when the shell opening faces you, it is on the left rather than the right! Almost all land and seashells are dextral, or right handed. Certain species such as the lightning whelk (Busycon contrarium) and our Physidae pest snails are normally sinistral. But in most cases, left handed shells are very rare and are considered freaks of nature.

I love these kinds of shells and am very slowly building up my collection. So far I only have a few because obviously, the freak ones are very rare and expensive. But just thought you snail enthusiasts might be interested in this one.

Very cool! That is what is great about Ebay, you can find just about anything! Hope you win it!

Hehe, it was a buy it now luckily. Freak left handed shells are usually really, really expensive and way out of my price range! I pounced on this one as soon as it came up.

oh wow, I glanced at the name of this thread and thought it said "Sinister" shell.... my jaw dropped right to the floor!

very cool though, i never knew that happepned!

LOL Actually the Latin "sin" is the same as sinister… it was thought that the left or sinister way of doing things was evil and some religions and cultures forced left-handed people to be right handed. I have read some really interesting info about that. Ours is a right-handed world since that is what the majority of people (and animals!) are. The lefties are at a major disadvantage.

It is so interesting that entire species of shells (and fish, there is a kind of "left-handed" flounder) have become sinistral. I dont know, Im a science nerd.

WOW, How cool is that?!! Great find Jenny

I never knew that these type's of shells exsited either, Learn something new everyday.

So, At one point something did live in that shell, Right?

The fact's behind the "Sinister" are very intresting. Odd how a culture can make us what we are today isn't it?

Yep, that shell, like all shells, was created by an animal. I don't know if it was killed or dead found. I am thinking it was dead first as they often include the operculum if its live caught.

Thats kind of the thing that gets to me about collecting shells–I know most of them were killed for their shells.

My dad is left handed!
He's a freak of nature!