Massachusetts’ Official State Shell Is Not What You Might Think

Massachusetts has an official state symbol for just about everything, so it's not surprising we have an official state shell. However, it's not what you might think.

Living as we do in a community known worldwide for its fishing industry, proximity to the ocean, and our affinity for seafood, we've seen our share of seashells in New Bedford.

Shell USA, Inc. already laid claim to the scallop shell. A red-and-yellow version shines brightly from the corner gas stations. Some might argue that Massachusetts should declare the scallop shell the Commonwealth's official shell, given the tens of millions of pounds of scallops landed each year by the New Bedford fleet.

There is always the lobster shell, but that belongs to Maine. After all, Maine is responsible for 90 percent of the nation's supply of lobster.

Massachusetts is also known for clams and their larger cousin, the quahog. However, Rhode Island has already designated the quahog as its official shellfish. So much for that.

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Many other types of shellfish are common along the Massachusetts shoreline, including mussels, whelks and moon snails. There are also slipper shells, angel wings, razor clams and jingle shells.

The official Massachusetts shell is that of the New England Neptune sea snail, officially designated as Neptunea lyrata decemcostata.

The New England Neptune sea snail, chosen in 1987, is a large marine gastropod mollusk also known as the 10-ridged whelk and is commonly found in the Gulf of Maine.

Chances are good that you've seen an abandoned New England Neptune seashell while walking the beaches in the Greater New Bedford area.

Several beaches in Massachusetts are popular for those seeking to find seashells.