Examples of animals with shells include snails, crabs, cockroaches, clams, and bugs.
Animals with shells are some of the most unique creatures on Earth. They come in many shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: an outer protective layer that helps them survive in their environment.
Some animals have shells that protect them from the elements and predators. Shells can come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors depending on the type of animal they are protecting.
Examples of Animals with Shells
1. African Giant Snail
| Scientific Name | Achatina fulica |
| Type of Animal | Gastropods |
| Range | East Africa |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The African giant snail is a large, terrestrial gastropod that can be found in Sub-Saharan Africa. These snails have a brown shell with black and white stripes that can grow up to 20 cm in length.
They are herbivores and prefer to eat leaves, fruits, and vegetables.
2. American Dog Tick
| Scientific Name | Dermacentor variabilis |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | North America |
| Diet | Carnivore |
This tick is found in Eastern North America. The American dog ticks usually burrow into the ground to wait for their prey, like rodents and small mammals. When they sense one nearby, it grabs onto them with its front legs while inserting a needle-like mouthpart called a hypostome which helps them suck blood from the host animal.
3. Argentinian Wood Roach
| Scientific Name | Blaptica dubia |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | Central and South America |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The Argentinian wood roach is a type of cockroach that has an oval-shaped shell located on its thorax. These shells are typically brown but can sometimes be reddish-brown or black depending on the subspecies.
Their body size is roughly around 40mm and they have wings although they cannot fly. They eat decaying organic matter and are also scavengers.
4. Brown Crab
| Scientific Name | Cancer pagurus |
| Type of Animal | Malacostracans |
| Range | the North Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and perhaps the Mediterranean Sea |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The brown crab is a common type of crab found in the UK. This crustacean has a hard shell that is reddish-brown in color. The brown crab ranges in size from two to six inches wide and can be found in both salt and fresh water.
5. Cat Flea
| Scientific Name | Ctenocephalides felis |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The cat flea is a tiny parasite that lives on the bodies of cats and dogs. They are brown in color with tough, streamlined bodies made to help them move through their host’s fur quickly. This allows them to evade predators while they drink blood from their host.
6. Chambered Nautilus
| Scientific Name | Nautilus pompilius |
| Type of Animal | Cephalopod |
| Range | the western Pacific Ocean |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The chambered nautilus is a type of cephalopod that has a shell. This marine animal lives in the deep ocean and can grow up to 8 inches long. The chambered nautilus has an interesting defense mechanism- it can release a black ink cloud to confuse predators
7. Chilean King Crab
| Scientific Name | Lithodes santolla |
| Type of Animal | Malacostracans |
| Range | South Americas |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The Chilean king crab is a type of crab that lives in the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. This crab has a hard shell that protects it from predators and the elements. The shell can be red, green, or brown in color, and can grow up to 8 inches wide.
8. Death’s Head Cockroach
| Scientific Name | Blaberus craniifer |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America |
| Diet | Omnivore |
These cockroaches are native to Africa and Asia. They can be found in rural areas, forests, near rivers, or ponds. This species of roach is considered the most dangerous due to the powerful toxin that they produce when threatened by predators like rats, lizards, and snakes.
See Also: What does it mean when a cockroach crawls on you?
9. Doodle Bug
| Scientific Name | Myrmeleon |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The Doodle Bug is a type of beetle that has a hard, outer shell. This shell protects the beetle from predators and environmental hazards. The Doodle Bug can be found in many different colors, including yellow, green, and brown.
10. Dublin Bay Prawn
| Scientific Name | Nephrops norvegicus |
| Type of Animal | Malacostracans |
| Range | the Irish Sea |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Dublin Bay Prawn is a type of lobster that lives in the cold, dark waters off the coast of Ireland. This lobster has a hard shell that protects it from predators and the elements. The shell is a light green with brown stripes, and it can grow up to 25 cm long.
11. European Lobster
| Scientific Name | Homarus gammarus |
| Type of Animal | Malacostracans |
| Range | the eastern Atlantic |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The European Lobster has a very hard shell that is covered with teeth-like protrusions. These claws are extremely powerful and can even crack open the shells of their prey
12. Florida Stone Crab
| Scientific Name | Menippe mercenaria |
| Type of Animal | Malacostracans |
| Range | Atlantic and Gulf coasts |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The Florida stone crab is a type of crab that lives in the waters near Florida. These crabs have a hard shell that protects them from predators and the elements. The shells come in different colors but are usually light brown or tan.
13. Giant Clam
| Scientific Name | Tridacna gigas |
| Type of Animal | Bivalvia |
| Range | the South Pacific and parts of South Africa |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The giant clam is a large sea snail that can grow up to four feet long! These clams have a beautiful purple and pink shell that is often used in jewelry. They use their strong muscle to clamp down on prey, which includes fish and other clams.
14. Green Chiton
| Scientific Name | Chiton glaucus |
| Type of Animal | Chitons |
| Range | New Zealand |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The green chiton is a type of mollusk that has eight valves or shells. This animal lives in temperate waters and eats algae off rocks with its tongue, which has a tough tooth-like tip to help it graze on the algae. The green chiton can grow up to 2 inches long.
15. Hermann’s Tortoise
| Scientific Name | Testudo hermanni |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | Southern and Eastern Europe into the Middle East |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Hermann’s tortoises are native to southern Europe and North Africa. They have a dome-shaped shell that is brown with yellow markings on it. These animals can grow up to 8 inches long.
16. King Crab
| Scientific Name | Lithodidae |
| Type of Animal | Malacostracans |
| Range | Gulf of Alaska |
| Diet | Carnivore |
King crabs are one of the largest types of crabs. They typically live around deep water in the ocean and can be found in both coastal regions and off-shore habitats like hydrothermal vents (a place where hot and mineral-rich fluids spew out of the seafloor).
The king crab’s shell is used to defend itself from predators when it’s in the open ocean and to keep it warm when it’s in colder waters.
17. Longhorn Cowfish
| Scientific Name | Lactoria cornuta |
| Type of Animal | Fish |
| Range | Red Sea |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The longhorn cowfish is a fish that has a shell that can grow up to 12 inches long! This fish is found in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. The longhorn cowfish gets its name from the two horns on top of its head.
These horns are used to defend themselves against predators so they are difficult to swallow.
18. Mantis Shrimp
| Scientific Name | Stomatopoda |
| Type of Animal | Malacostracans |
| Range | Indian and Pacific Oceans |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The mantis shrimp is a colorful sea creature that has one of the most complex shells in the animal kingdom. The shell is made up of three parts: the carapace, which covers the head and thorax, the pleura, which covers the abdomen, and the merus, which is part of the arm.
19. Mediterranean Mussel
| Scientific Name | Mytilus galloprovincialis |
| Type of Animal | Mollusks |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The Mediterranean mussel is a small, bivalve mollusk that can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and parts of the Atlantic Ocean. This mussel has a light brown shell with black stripes and can grow up to three inches long.
20. Mollusks
| Scientific Name | Mollusca |
| Type of Animal | Mollusks |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Mollusks, such as snails and slugs, have a hard shell. They protect the mollusk from predators and help retain moisture in dry weather.
21. Nine-Banded Armadillo
| Scientific Name | Dasypus novemcinctus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Louisiana |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The nine-banded armadillo is the only species of armadillo found in North America. It has a hard, leathery shell that helps to protect it from predators and harsh weather conditions.
22. Pacific Cleaner Shrimp
| Scientific Name | Lysmata amboinensis |
| Type of Animal | Malacostracans |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
This shrimp is able to live symbiotically with anemones. They use their claws to catch food for the sea anemone and clean it of parasites.
23. Patagonian Shrimp
| Scientific Name | Pleoticus muelleri |
| Type of Animal | Malacostracans |
| Range | Argentina |
| Diet | Omnivore |
These shrimp live in the sea and have shells that look like they are covered in small bubbles. They can be found deep underwater, usually near volcanic vents, where their bubbly shell allows them to move quickly through the scalding hot waters.
24. Pond Slider
| Scientific Name | Trachemys scripta |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | southern Great Lakes region east to West Virginia |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The pond slider is a type of turtle that can be found in North America. They have a dark green shell with light stripes running down the middle. These turtles love to bask in the sun and can be found near ponds and rivers.
25. Radiated Tortoise
| Scientific Name | Astrochelys radiata |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | island of Madagascar |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The radiated tortoise is a species of tortoise that can be found in Africa. They are distinguishable by the black and yellow markings on their shell. Their shells serve as protection from predators and the elements.
26. Red-Footed Tortoise
| Scientific Name | Chelonoidis carbonaria |
| Type of Animal | Reptile |
| Range | South America |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The red-footed tortoise has a domed shell that is brown with black spots. This tortoise can be found in Central and South America. They are terrestrial tortoises, which means they live on land. Red-footed tortoises can weigh up to 20 pounds and reach lengths of 14 inches.
27. Reef Lobster
| Scientific Name | Enoplometopus |
| Type of Animal | Crustaceans |
| Range | Atlantic Ocean |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The reef lobster is a type of lobster that has a hard shell. This shell helps protect the lobster from predators and the elements. The reef lobster lives in warm, tropical waters and can be found near coral reefs.
28. Roman Snail
| Scientific Name | Helix pomatia |
| Type of Animal | Gastropods |
| Range | Central Europe |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The Roman snail is a type of land snail that can be found throughout Europe. These snails have a large, spiral-shaped shell that is brown or cream in color. They use their shells to protect themselves from predators and the elements.
29. Sacred Scarab
| Scientific Name | Scarabaeidae |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | Spain, Italy, Sardinia, Greece |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The Sacred Scarab is a type of beetle that lives in Africa and parts of the Middle East. These beetles can be up to two inches long and have a bright green shell. They are sacred to the ancient Egyptians, who believed that they were created by the god Khepri.
30. Scaly Foot Snail
| Scientific Name | Chrysomallon squamiferum |
| Type of Animal | Gastropods |
| Range | the Indian Ocean |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The scaly foot snail is a type of sea snail that has a hard, brown shell. This snail lives in the deep ocean and can withstand high pressure and extreme temperatures.
31. Sea Urchins
| Scientific Name | Echinoidea |
| Type of Animal | Marine Invertebrate |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Herbivore |
These small animals have spiny shells that come in a variety of colors, including purple, orange, and red. They use their sharp spines to protect themselves from predators and to help them move around in the water.
Read Also: Do Sea Urchin Have Spikes?
32. Spiny Spider Crab
| Scientific Name | Maja squinado |
| Type of Animal | Crustacean |
| Range | the waters around Europe |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Spiny Spider Crabs have a large, spiky shell surrounding their whole body. The shell is usually brown with yellow spots and the legs are covered in purple hairs to match.
33. Squat Lobster
| Scientific Name | Munidopsis serricornis |
| Type of Animal | Crustacean |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The squat lobster is a small, pink lobster that lives in the Pacific Ocean. This lobster has a hard shell that protects it from predators and the elements.
34. Texas Ironclad Beetle
| Scientific Name | Zopherus nodulosus haldemani Horn |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | east and central Texas |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The Texas Ironclad Beetle is a type of beetle that can be found in the state of Texas. This particular beetle has a reddish-brown shell that helps protect it from predators and the elements.
35. Velvet Crab
| Scientific Name | Necora puber |
| Type of Animal | Crustacean |
| Range | southern Norway to Western Sahara |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The velvet crab is a type of crab that has a bright red shell. This shell helps to camouflage the crab from predators. The velvet crab can be found in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
36. Wood Tick
| Scientific Name | Dermacentor variabilis |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | Rocky Mountain |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Wood ticks are known as some of the most dangerous animals in North America because they carry Lyme disease. They have a hard, flat shell that protects them from predators and shields their soft underbelly from danger.
37. Yellow Crab
| Scientific Name | Metacarcinus anthonyi |
| Type of Animal | Crustacean |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The yellow crab is a small, saltwater crab that lives in tropical and subtropical waters. This crab gets its name from its bright yellow shell. Yellow crabs are scavengers and feed on dead animals and plants.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.