Lining the water’s edge on Long Beach Island beaches, a stunning array of shells sparkles with each lap of the waves. Dozens of unique species get tossed and turned underwater by the shorebreak, while sun-bleached piles formed by the tides gather farther up the beach.

While the clams, scallops and oysters are recognizable and easily identifiable for most, there is a wide variety of shells that can be commonly found on LBI beaches.

An exciting find for any beachcomber or ocean lover is an empty knobbed whelk, which was designated New Jersey’s state shell in 1995.