Could you explain why «coquille» is not accepted for "shell"? In LaRousse, «coquillage» appears to primarily mean the group of animals, and can refer to only the soft living part inside the shell. Indeed the first definition of «coquillage» is «Mollusque revêtu d'une coquille».
https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/coquillage/19198
Hi Jessica,
I can see your point but you wouldn't be looking for 'coquilles' on a beach but 'coquillages'.
Take a look at the following page which describes the difference well I think -
https://regardsurlefrancais.com/2021/11/08/coquille-ou-coquillage%E2%80%89/
Hope it helps!
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