Found in Orange Beach, AL

[AmberK]

Today when swimming I stepped on and then dug up a large shell.  I was in Orange Beach, AL.  I’m am trying to find out what kind of shell it is and if it is a fossil.  It is about 7 inches long and very heavy.  Thank you.

[SPrice]

Congrats on your find!  My opinion is that you have a large fossil Whelk shell. 

 

Also, a guestimate on the species is -  Busycon (Sinistrofulgur) holeylandicum  - and it's rare being "left handed" .

 

Most modern Knobbed Whelk  - Busycon carica  - are right handed and a lefty is  1 out of 15,101 or  0.007% of the species.

 

Here's one of my righty, Knobby Whelks on my desktop. i also sliced one of my toes kicking a Whelk shell years ago when I didn't realize it was complete and embedded in the packed wet sand at the water's edge. yeow! it smarted and bled a lot.