Dentalium neohexagonum is a
species of
tusk shell, a
marine
Marine is an adjective meaning of or pertaining to the sea or ocean.
Marine or marines may refer to:
Ocean
* Maritime (disambiguation)
* Marine art
* Marine biology
* Marine debris
* Marine habitats
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Military
* ...
scaphopod mollusk in the
family Dentaliidae
Dentaliidae is a family of relatively large tusk shells, scaphopod mollusks in the order Dentaliida.
Genera
* '' Antalis'' H. & A. Adams, 1854
* '' Coccodentalium'' Sacco, 1896
* '' Compressidentalium'' Habe, 1963
* '' Dentalium'' ...
.
As the Latin name implies, the cross section of this shell is hexagonal; hence its common name is six-sided tusk shell.
This species occurs along the central and southern
California coast of the
Pacific Ocean.
The shells of this species are known to have been used by the
Chumash people at least as early as circa 1000
AD, in the
Morro Bay area. They were used as
shell money rather than food.
See also
*
Chumash people
References
Native American culture
Scaphopods
Molluscs described in 1897
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