Melon shell and wooden stand presented together in a deckchair striped drawstring bag.

Shell size: 17.5 - 20cm. (7-8 Inch)

Description & Application:
This light-orange, cream coloured shell forms the basis for a range of crafts, and as a natural planter for interior and exterior decoration.

Melon shells thrive in relatively shallow waters and prefer to inhabit muddy bottoms often around mangrove swamps. Their worldwide distribution is quite limited, however, the shells are collected as a food source by subsistence fishing communities from Burma to the Philippines.

The shells can often be seen in rural markets used to measure out rusks and grain, whilst off-shore, the shells are referred to as bailers, due to their capacity to store water and their use to bail out boats.

Designation: Melo Melo Lightfoot