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| Conch |

An adult Queen Conch shell
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| Scientific classification |
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| Species |
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Strombus gigas
Strombus luhuanus
Strombus pugilis
Strombus tricornis
Strombus canarium
Strombus dolomena
Strombus gibberulus
Strombus conomurex
Strombus lentigo
Strombus doxander
Strombus urceus
Strombus fragilis
Strombus gallus
Strombus dentatus
Strombus marginatus
Strombus raninus
Strombus buvonius
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A conch (pronounced in the U.S.A. as "konk" or "conch"(IPA:
/kɒŋk/) [1] is one of a group of species of saltwater snail. True conches are marine gastropod mollusks in the
family Strombidae, and the genus Strombus.
Various other species of large, marine, shelled gastropods are also commonly called "conches", for example the Horse Conch
Pleuroploca gigantea and the Chank shell, Turbinella species, but
these various other gastropods are not considered true conches and are classified in other taxonomic families.
The true conch species within the genus Strombus vary in size from fairly small to very large. Several of the larger species
such as Strombus gigas, the pink conch or queen conch, are economically important as food sources. Strombus gigas
is also capable of producing (very rarely) a pink, gem quality pearl.
At least 65 species of Strombidae are extant, and a much larger number of species exist
only in the fossil record. Of the living species, most are in the Indo-Pacific Oceans. Six species live in the greater Caribbean region,
including the Queen Conch, Strombus gigas, and the West Indian Fighting Conch,
Strombus pugilis.
Many species of conch, such as the Queen Conch, live on sandy bottoms among beds of sea grass in warm tropical waters.
Strombus gigas is included in Appendix II of the UNEP's
CITES list of endangered species, and international
trade is heavily restricted.[2]
Anatomy
Florida Fighting Conch,
Strombus alatus
Conches have spirally constructed shells. This spiral shell growth is usually dextral
(right-handed) but on very rare occasions it can be sinistral (left-handed).
True conches have long eye stalks with colorful ring-marked eyes. The shell has a long and narrow aperture, and a short
siphonal canal, with another indentation near the anterior end called a stromboid notch.
This notch is where one of the two eye stalks protrudes from the shell. The animal also has a foot ending in a pointed,
sickle-shaped, operculum. The animals grow a flared lip on their shells only upon reaching sexual maturity.
Conches have a characteristic leaping motion, using their pointed, sickle-shaped, horny operculum to propel themselves
forward. They lay eggs in long, gelatinous strands.
Human use
The animal inside the shell is eaten, either raw, as in salads, or cooked, as in
fritters, chowders, gumbos, and
burgers. In East Asian cuisines, the meat is often cut into thin slices and then steamed or
stir-fried. In El Salvador, live conch is served in a cocktail of onion, tomato, cilantro,
and lemon juice. Lemon juice is squeezed onto the cocktail, causing the conch to squirm, and then the whole thing is slurped down
whole, as in the manner of oysters. Conch meat is also often confused with Scungilli, which is more accurately whelk meats. All parts of the conch meat are edible. However, most people only find the white meat appetising.
Conch shells are sometimes used as decoration, as decorative planters, and in cameo making. In
classic Mayan art, conches are shown being utilized in many ways including as paint and ink
holders for elite scribes, as bugles or trumpets, and as hand weapons (held by combatants by inserting their hands in the
aperture). The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped the sea and
often depicted conch shells in their art. [1] Some American
aborigonals used cylindrical conch columella beads as part of breastplates and other personal adornment. See Hair Pipes.
In popular folklore, it is believed that if one holds an open conch shell (or any other large marine snail shell) to the ear,
the ocean can be heard. This phenomenon is caused by the resonant cavity of the shell producing a form of pink noise from the surrounding background ambience.[citation needed]
In some Caribbean and African American cemeteries conch shells are placed on graves. (The Last Miles of the Way: African
Homegoing Traditions, 1890-Present, edited by Elaine Nichols).
In some countries, cleaned Queen Conch (Strombus gigas) shells or polished fragments are sold, mainly to
tourists, as souvenirs or in jewelry. Without a permit, however, export is a breach of CITES regulations and
may lead to arrest [3].
This is most likely to occur on return to the tourist's home country while clearing customs. In
the UK conch shells are the ninth most seized import. [4]
Conch shells are occasionally used as a building material, either in place of bricks or as bulk for landfill.
Playing the conch shell as a muscial instrument
Conch shells are sometimes made into crude bugles by removing the small tip of the
shell to form a mouthpiece. Such instruments are used in the Pacific Islands as well
as in many parts of Asia.
While lacking the range capabilities and tonal quality of brass instruments, the
conch shell is still an interesting instrument to play. Despite its limited range, the conch shell possesses a haunting, mellow,
resonate tone that no traditional brass instrument can mimic. As it has no mouthpiece or valves, the embouchure in shell playing is critical.
Most shells will only naturally play one note, but with pitch manipulations, multiple sounds can be achieved. The insertion of
the hand and the placement of the fingers will also change the pitch of the shell.
The conch shell is said to be the musical instrument of mermaids and mermen. Steve Turre is the leading innovator of modern shell playing. The
conch shell is sometimes found in classical works, such as the symphony piece "La Noche de Los Mayas", or "Night of the Mayas",
which was premiered in 1939 with Jacob Watkins on percussion and conch. The shell is also sometimes sounded at cricket matches in
the Caribbean.
Religious symbolism
Hindu tradition
A Hindu priest blowing a conch during a
puja.
A Chank shell or Turbinella species in the family Turbinellidae, is often referred to in the west as a conch shell, and
this is a major Hindu article of prayer. It is used as a trumpet.
The god of Preservation, Vishnu, is said to hold a special conch, Panchajanya, that represents
life, as it has come out of life-giving waters.
In the story of Dhruva the divine conch plays a special part. The warriors of ancient
India would blow conch shells to announce battle, such as is famously represented in the beginning
of the war of Kurukshetra in the Mahabharata, the famous Hindu epic. The conch shell is a
deep part of Hindu symbolic and religious tradition. To this very day, many Hindus use the conch as a part of their religious
practices, blowing it during worship at specific points, accompanied by ceremonial bells. See also: Dakshinavarti Shankh Paris Flood
Buddhist tradition
Buddhism has also incorporated the Chank shell into its symbolism. See: Buddhist symbolism.
Literature
William Golding's Lord of the Flies
features frequent references to "The Conch". In the book the conch is used to call everyone together and held by whoever is
speaking at meetings, symbolically representing democracy and order. When a boulder released by Roger, Jack's lieutenant, smashes
the conch, it is a sign that civilized order has collapsed and Jack's domination has begun.
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Media
References
- ^ Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. The Spirit of Ancient
Peru:Treasures from the Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera. New York:
Thames and Hudson, 1997.
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