Dentalium is a seashell harvested on the Pacific coast of western Washington and southern British Columbia in waters averaging 60 feet deep, it rarely washed up on shore and had to be deliberately removed from the sea floor with a broom-type tool.
Are dentalium shells endangered?
Dentalium vernedei is a smooth, white shell that is approximately 2 cm to 3 cm (0.75" to 1.25") long and is sold by the kilogram. Genus and species: Dentalium vernedei. Wild. Dentalium vernedei are not endangered and are not subject to CITES controls.
What are dentalium shells made of?
Dentalium, a small ocean mollusk native to the areas around Vancouver Island, was used as a form of currency by tribes throughout the Pacific Northwest and as far east as the Dakotas. Many of the shells were strung on thread made from irises and measured in strands.