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Story: Shellfish

Circular saw shell

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Circular saw shell

Circular saw shells (Astraea heliotropium) were once considered to be rare, and were desired collectors’ items. However, they are often brought up by oyster dredges working in Foveaux Strait and no longer command high prices at shell auctions.

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Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Shellfish – Shell collecting, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/8042/circular-saw-shell (accessed 14 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 2 March 2009.