======Streeler Shells======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Potion Ingredient]]
  * **Owners:** Harvested from [[Streeler]]s; sold in [[Apothecary|apothecaries]].
  * **Maker:** Sourced from the magical creature, the [[Streeler]].
=====Description and Appearance=====
[[Streeler]] Shells are the protective outer coverings of [[Streeler]]s, a species of giant magical snail. The most remarkable feature of these shells is their ability to change color in a vibrant, kaleidoscopic display, a trait they share with the creature itself, which is known to change its hue every hour.
The shells are often described as being covered in sharp spines, which can make handling and processing them for [[potion]]-making a difficult task (Pottermore). Their size corresponds to that of the giant snail they come from.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
The primary and most well-known use for [[Streeler]] Shells is as a [[potion ingredient]]. Although their specific properties are not detailed in the [[Hogwarts]] curriculum covered in the novels, they are widely used in the broader world of [[Potioneering]].
  * **Thickening Agent:** [[Streeler]] Shells are known to be a key thickening agent in various concoctions (Pottermore).
  * **Color-Changing Properties:** It is believed that the shells may impart their color-changing characteristics to the potions they are used in.
It is important to distinguish the shell from the creature's venom. The venomous slime trail left by a [[Streeler]] is highly toxic and is one of the few known substances that can kill [[Horklump]]s. The shell itself is not noted to possess this venomous property.
=====History=====
[[Streeler]]s are native to several African countries but have been bred by [[wizard]]s across Europe, Asia, and the Americas due to the demand for their shells and the fascination with their color-changing nature. The ownership of a live [[Streeler]] requires a license from the [[Ministry of Magic]], suggesting that the trade of their parts, including the shells, is likely regulated.
As a result, [[Streeler]] Shells have become a standard, if somewhat exotic, ingredient found in wizarding apothecaries, such as the shop on [[Diagon Alley]], available for purchase by students and accomplished potioneers alike.
=====Role in the Story=====
While not specifically mentioned within the narrative of the seven original novels, [[Streeler]] Shells are an established part of the wizarding world's magical inventory. Their existence is confirmed through the [[Hogwarts]] textbook, //[[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]]//, which describes the [[Streeler]] creature in detail. This textbook is a required reading for first-year students, placing the creature and its by-products firmly within the canonical universe known to the characters.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * The primary source of canonical information on the [[Streeler]] and its shell comes from the //[[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]]// textbook, written by [[J.K. Rowling]].
  * In the [[video game]] adaptation of //[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]//, [[Streeler]] Shells are a common [[potion ingredient]] that [[Harry Potter]] must collect for [[Severus Snape]]'s lessons.
  * Information on the Pottermore (now Wizarding World) website further elaborates on the shells' use as a thickening agent and their spiny physical nature (Pottermore).