Commonly known as the queen conch, this species is one of the largest mollusks native to the Tropical Northwestern Atlantic, from Bermuda to Brazil, reaching up to 13.9 in shell length. Conch lives at depths from 0.3 m to 18 m or to 25 m.
Conch meat is an important food source for humans and has been eaten for centuries, raw, marinated, minced or chopped in a wide variety of dishes. In Florida, its existence has been threatened by excessive harvesting and there is now a ban on its removal. This species is not truly endangered in the Caribbean as yet.
Besides providing food, conch is used for its shell to make tools such as chisels and knives, decorative buttons and jewelry. The adult conch has a very large, solid and heavy shell, with knob-like spines on the shoulder and a characteristic pink-colored aperture (opening). The adult shell of this species is about 30 cm in length. The shell is very solid and heavy, with 9 to 11 whorls and a widely flaring and thickened outer lip. The glossy finish or glaze around the aperture of the adult shell is colored primarily in shades of pink. This pink glaze is usually pale, and may show a cream, peach or yellow coloration, but it can also sometimes be tinged with a deep magenta, shading almost to red. The outermost part of the shell surface is thin and pale brown.
Very rarely (about 1 in 10,000 conchs), a conch pearl may be found within the mantle of the animal. Conch pearls occur in a range of colors according to the colors of the interior of the shell. The pink conch pearls are considered to be the most desirable. Pearls from the queen variety are rare and are collectors' items. Conch pearls are considered semi-precious, as they are non-nacreous, which differs from most pearls sold as gemstones.
Queen conch shells held great significance for many cultures and were used by Native Americans and Caribbean Indians in a wide variety of ways. Tools (such as knives, axe heads and chisels), jewelry, cookware, blowing horns were made out of conch shells. The shells were also used in religious rituals to hold holy water. Today queen conch shells are mainly utilized in handicraft.
The conch shells natural beauty is amazing, therefore even the plain shells themselves are very popular as souvenirs.
Conch meat is an important food source for humans and has been eaten for centuries, raw, marinated, minced or chopped in a wide variety of dishes. In Florida, its existence has been threatened by excessive harvesting and there is now a ban on its removal. This species is not truly endangered in the Caribbean as yet.
Besides providing food, conch is used for its shell to make tools such as chisels and knives, decorative buttons and jewelry. The adult conch has a very large, solid and heavy shell, with knob-like spines on the shoulder and a characteristic pink-colored aperture (opening). The adult shell of this species is about 30 cm in length. The shell is very solid and heavy, with 9 to 11 whorls and a widely flaring and thickened outer lip. The glossy finish or glaze around the aperture of the adult shell is colored primarily in shades of pink. This pink glaze is usually pale, and may show a cream, peach or yellow coloration, but it can also sometimes be tinged with a deep magenta, shading almost to red. The outermost part of the shell surface is thin and pale brown.
Very rarely (about 1 in 10,000 conchs), a conch pearl may be found within the mantle of the animal. Conch pearls occur in a range of colors according to the colors of the interior of the shell. The pink conch pearls are considered to be the most desirable. Pearls from the queen variety are rare and are collectors' items. Conch pearls are considered semi-precious, as they are non-nacreous, which differs from most pearls sold as gemstones.
Queen conch shells held great significance for many cultures and were used by Native Americans and Caribbean Indians in a wide variety of ways. Tools (such as knives, axe heads and chisels), jewelry, cookware, blowing horns were made out of conch shells. The shells were also used in religious rituals to hold holy water. Today queen conch shells are mainly utilized in handicraft.
The conch shells natural beauty is amazing, therefore even the plain shells themselves are very popular as souvenirs.
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