Conch Page 1 of 1 Conch, common name applied to many species of marine snails (gastropod mollusks). The shells of true conchs have overlapping whorls and an outermost triangular whorl. The covering of the shell opening is a clawlike structure used by the conch to dig into the sea bottom and push itself along in short, sudden spurts. The largest conch, called the queen conch, lives in the Atlantic Ocean in warmer waters. Its shell reaches a length of about 1 m (about 3 ft). The queen conch and some other species of conch are harvested for their edible meat, and the shells of many conchs have ornamental value. The shells of some species are fashioned into trumpets for use in ceremonial music among certain religious and ethnic groups. Scientific classification: True conchs make up the family Strombidae, order Mesogastropoda, subclass Prosobranchia, class Gastropoda, phylum Mollusca. The queen conch is classified as Strombus gigas. -----Verbatim from Microsoft Encarta (encarta.msn.com/introedition/default.asp)---- William M. Frank 1865 Debutante Dr. Jacksonville, FL 32246-8645 Phone: (904) 724-5326 (Voice & Fax) [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask]