SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. – Shell enthusiasts across the world are in awe about a recent find on Sanibel Island.
Dr. Melanie Dittmer said she was sitting in shallow water off the beach last month, when she felt a handful of shells beneath her.
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One of those shells that she grabbed from the sand is an ultra rare Junonia, which is a species of large sea snail.
Junonias normally live in very deep depths in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and experts say only major weather events like hurricanes can bring them to the surface.
Of course, Sanibel Island is still rebuilding after a direct hit from Hurricane Ian last year.
Dittmer, who works at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), said it had been her goal all year to find a Junonia since she moved to Sanibel.
“I don’t think too many people can they sat on a Junonia!” said Dittmer.
Junonias are named after the ancient Roman goddess Juno.