iridescent shell
Shimmering mollusk armor
An iridescent shell displays shifting rainbow colors that change with the angle of light—the shimmering effect seen in abalone, mother-of-pearl, and many mollusks.
The iridescence comes from the shell's layered structure diffracting light.
Such shells are prized in jewelry and decorative arts: She collected iridescent shells along the beach.
- nacreIridescent shell coating
- pearlMollusk-formed gemstone
- abaloneNacreous marine gastropod
- opalescentShowing milky iridescence
- shimmerTremulous, wavering light
rainbow · mother-of-pearl · gleaming · oyster · lustrous · seashell · beach · sea glass · tidal pool · mollusk · sea creature · pearlescent · holographic · sheen · ocean · tide · conch · spiral
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