Creature Feature – Conch Shell
This week is the letter ‘C’, and today’s featured creature is the Conch Shell. Conch (pronounced ‘konk’) shells are invertebrate molluscs (soft-bodied) and are perhaps the most iconic seashell species!
It is said that you can hear ocean waves if you put a conch to your ear, however what you actually hear is your own pulse.
Taxonomy
Scientific Name: Lobatus gigas
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Strombidae
Genus: Gigas
Queen Conch Shell
Queen Conch Shell Fact File
Size: Individuals can reach up to 30cm in length and weigh up to 2.27kg
Distribution: This species can be found in tropical waters throughout the world, including the Caribbean, West Indies, and the Mediterranean
Diet: Conchs are herbivores that eat sea grass and algae as well as dead material
Behaviour: There are over 60 species of sea snails. Queen conchs reproduce sexually, can spawn year-round and their lifespan is approximately 30 years
IUCN Status: Not Evaluated. However, as the conch is edible, it is susceptible to over-harvesting, and is also collected by the curios trade
