True Conchs Shells of the Strombidae Family

Seven True Conch Shells of the Strombidae Family can be found in this website:

Phylogeny: True Conch Shells of the Strombidae Family are gastropod mollusks in the Littorinimorpha Order. This order is large and very diverse in shape including snail-like, cowry shaped, and limpet-like. Most are marine species but some are found in freshwater or on land. They all have a twisted shell and a muscular foot that is used for movement. The key characteristic is that they all exhibit torsion, which is a process where the body twists so that the anus, gills, mantle cavity, and reproductive organs all point forward. There are sixteen superfamilies in this large order. The Strombidae Family is one of six families in the superfamily Stromboidea. The Strombidae Family is fairly large, with no subfamilies, thirty-one genera, and one hundred thirty-five species. Shells in this family are also commonly called Conchs or Strombids.

Description: True Conch Shells range from very small to very large in size. They display a tremendous variety in shape, sculpting, and color patterns. Most of the shells are solid and heavy, but others are fine and delicate. They have with a large body whorl with a moderate to high spire. They may be smooth or have prominent knobs on the shoulders or spiral cords. The aperture is long, and, in adults, flared. The outer lip may be thickened and/or have long wing-like projections. The posterior canal extends up the spire. The anterior siphon canal is short or absent.  The columella is smooth and callused. True Conch Shells have a stromboid notch in the anterior portion of the labrum, which allows the right eye stalk to project.   Conchs are thought to have the most acute eyesight of all mollusks.  The largest species in this family is 40 cm (15.7 inches) in length.

Habitat and Distribution: True Conch Shells are found on hard substrates and on sand. They are often associated with seagrass beds. They live in the intertidal zone and to depths of 150 m (492 feet), though most are found in the top 30 m (98 feet). True Conch Shells are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. Nine species from this family are found in Mexican waters.

Natural History: True Conch Shells feed on algae and detritus. In turn they are preyed upon by crabs, fish, sea stars and predatory mollusks. True Conch Shells have an arched foot with a small, sickle-shaped, operculum. Conchs use this foot and operculum combination to leap away from predators, instead of crawling as do most gastropods. They can also use their foot to kick away predators and to bury themselves in sand. True Conch Shells are gonochoric and reproduce sexually with internal fertilization. The eggs are laid in string-like masses. True Conch Shells are edible and are harvested commercially in some regions.