Hi all,
 
Here's my "explanation" of this naming game:
It seems to me while browsing through some lists of common names that whelks
are generally thin-lipped and conch's thick lipped. Also I noticed that
shells from more temperate regions were mostly called whelks while tropical
ones stood a greater chance of being called a conch. Of course these
criteria are partly caused by members of the Buccinidae (whelks) and
Strombidae (conchs). So those who have a better "explanation" please feel
free.
 
Erick
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah Wills <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Saturday, October 10, 1998 10:26 AM
Subject: Definition: Conch vs Whelk
 
 
>Hi, All !
>
>I've received a question that I thought would be interesting to see what
>kinds of answers you all come up with.  I do not know the age or
>education level of the originator of the question, but I suspect he/she
>is school age (K-12).
>
>Thanks in advance for your input!
>
>Debbie Wills
> <><
>
>
>The Question:
>
>> I had a student ask me the difference between a conch
>> and a whelk, and I honestly could not answer him. Is
>> there any difference? And if so, what? Any help in this
>> quest would be appreciated.
>