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Conch (US:/kɑːŋk,kɑːntʃ/KONK,KONCH,UK:/kɒntʃ/KONCH)[1] is any of a number of different medium-to-large-sizedsea snails. Conch shells typically have a highspire and a noticeablesiphonal canal (in other words, the shell comes to a noticeable point on both ends).
Conchs that are sometimes referred to as "true conchs" aremarinegastropods in thefamilyStrombidae, specifically in the genusStrombus and other closely related genera. For example,Aliger gigas, the queen conch, is a true conch. True conchs are identified by their long spire.[2]
Many other species are also often called "conch", but are not at all closely related to the family Strombidae, includingMelongena species (familyMelongenidae) and the horse conchTriplofusus papillosus (familyFasciolariidae). Species commonly referred to as conches also include the sacred chank orshankha shell (Turbinella pyrum) and otherTurbinella species in the familyTurbinellidae. The Triton's trumpet (familyCharoniidae) may also be fashioned into a horn and referred to as a conch.[citation needed]
The English word "conch" is attested inMiddle English,[3] coming fromLatinconcha (shellfish,mussel),[3][4] which in turn comes from Greekkonchē (same meaning)[3][4] ultimately fromProto-Indo-European root*konkho-,[3] cognate with Sanskrit wordśaṅkha.[3]
Conch are species of sea snail in the phylum Mollusca. Their shells consist of about 95% calcium carbonate and 5% organic matter. Conch are harvested for their edible meat and decorative shell. The shells are often used as decoration or as musical instruments.[5]
Queen conch (Aliger gigas) was listed as threatened under theEndangered Species Act in 2024.[6] Due to this threatened classification, commercial or recreational harvesting is illegal in Florida waters and punishable by state law.[7] There are significant conservation efforts underway to help protect this species, including the use ofaquaculture to raise them in hatcheries and relocation of conchs to increase mating.[8]
The meat of conches is often eaten raw insalads or cooked in burgers,chowders,fritters, andgumbos. Conch is indigenous to the Caribbean andWest Indies. Conch is particularly popular in theBahamas,Turks and Caicos, andJamaica.[9] Conch has been widely consumed in the Bahamas—where it is popular cooked into fritters—since the settlement of the islands by theLucayan people; in recent years, increased harvesting of juveniles has negatively impacted the conch population.[10] In Jamaica conch is eaten in stews and curries. In theDominican Republic,Grenada, andHaiti, conch is commonly eaten in curries or in a spicy soup. It is locally[where?] referred to aslambi. InPuerto Rico, conch is served as aceviche, often calledensalada de carrucho (conch salad), consisting of raw conch marinated in lime juice, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, green peppers, and onions. It is also used to fillempanadas.
InPanama, conch is known ascambombia and is often served asceviche de cambombia, consisting of raw conch marinated in lime juice, chopped onions, finely choppedhabaneros, and often vinegar.
Conch is very popular inItaly and amongItalian Americans. Calledsconcigli, it is eaten in a variety of ways, but most often in salads or cooked in a sauce for pasta. It is often included as one of the dishes prepared for theFeast of the Seven Fishes.
In East Asian cuisines, conch is often cut into thin slices and thensteamed orstir-fried.
Eighty percent of the queen conch meat in international trade is imported into the United States. TheFlorida Keys were a major source of queen conches until the 1970s, but the conches are now scarce and all harvesting of them in Florida waters is prohibited[11] and individuals who have harvested them have been jailed.[12]
Inthe Turks and Caicos Islands, a Conch Festival is held in November each year at the Three Queens bar/restaurant in Blue Hills. Local restaurateurs compete for the best and most original conch dishes, which are then judged by international chefs. Other competitions, events, and music performances occur.[13]
 Conch fritters and dip | |
| Type | Fritter |
|---|---|
| Course | Appetizer |
| Region or state | The Bahamas |
| Associatedcuisine | Bahamian cuisine |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Conch, cornmeal, diced vegetables |
Conch fritters are commonly served inthe Bahamas and theFlorida Keys. The dish is popular in Bahamian restaurants and was described byTime as "the Bahamas' own original fast food".[14]
They are also popular in Florida, where they are typically served withkey lime mustard.[15] The DNA of fried conch fritters exported to Florida from the Bahamas have been analyzed by researchers to studyqueen conch populations.[16]
The meat of a conch isminced before cooking to tenderize it.[17] The mince is then mixed into a seasonedfritter batter made of cornmeal, chopped vegetables, typically including onions, bell peppers, celery and jalapeños.[18][19][20][21] Lemon juice, tomato paste, black pepper and creole seasoning are commonly used.[22][23] The batter mixture is then formed into balls and deep-fried.[24][25] They are served with various dipping sauces, such as cocktail sauce, mayonnaise or ketchup.[26][27]
Conch shells can be used aswind instruments. They are prepared by cutting a hole in thespire of the shell near theapex and then blowing into the shell as if it were a trumpet, as ablowing horn. Sometimes a mouthpiece is used, but some shell trumpets are blown without one. Pitch is adjusted by moving one's hand in and out of the aperture; the deeper the hand, the lower the note.
Various species of large marinegastropod shells can be turned into blowing shells, but some of the best-known species used are the sacred chank orshankhaTurbinella pyrum, the Triton's trumpetCharonia tritonis, and the queen conchStrombus gigas.
One of the most famous musical instruments was found in theMarsoulas cave in thePyrenees Mountains, inFrance, in 1932. CT scans showed how ancient humans adapted the Concho to make it a musical instrument, such as creating a mouthpiece that was held together by an organic matter likeclay orwax. Researchers from theSorbonne, together with a professional horn player, were able to use it again as a musical instrument and play it.
Examples of this practice in the Americas can be seen in the form of historical artifacts at theMuseo Larco inLima,Peru, andMuseo Nacional de Antropología inMexico City,Mexico.
Many kinds of molluscs can producepearls. Pearls from the queen conch,S. gigas, are rare and have been collector's items since Victorian times.[28] Conch pearls occur in a range of hues, including white, brown, and orange, with many intermediate shades, but pink is the colour most associated with the conch pearl, such that these pearls are sometimes referred to simply as "pink pearls".[28] In some gemological texts, non-nacreous gastropod pearls used to be referred to as "calcareous concretions" because they were porcellaneous (shiny and ceramic-like in appearance), rather than nacreous (with a pearly luster). TheGemological Institute of America andWorld Jewellery Confederation now use the simple term "pearl"—or, where appropriate, the more-descriptive term "non-nacreous pearl"—for such items,[29] and, under Federal Trade Commission rules, various mollusk pearls may be referred to as "pearls" without qualification.[30]
Although not nacreous, the surfaces of fine conch pearls have a unique appearance. The microstructure of conch pearls comprises partly aligned bundles of microcrystalline fibers that create a shimmering, slightlyiridescent effect known as flame structure. The effect is a form ofchatoyancy, caused by the interaction of light rays with the microcrystals in the pearl's surface, and it somewhat resemblesmoiré silk.[citation needed]
TheMoche people of ancientPeru worshipped the sea and often depicted conch shells in their art.[49]
Quetzalcoatl, theAztec god of wind and learning, wears around his neck the "wind breastplate"ehecailacocozcatl, "the spirally voluted wind jewel" made of a conch shell. Blowing a conch was considered a religious act.[50]
Ashankha shell (the shell of aT. pyrum, a species in the gastropod familyTurbinellidae) is often referred to in the West as a conch shell or a chank shell. This shell is used as an important ritual object inHinduism. The shell is used as a ceremonial trumpet, as part of religious practices, for examplepuja. The chank trumpet is sounded during worship at specific points, accompanied by ceremonial bells and singing. As it is anauspicious instrument, it is of purity and brilliance (Om,Devas,Brahman the Almighty Supreme creator, referred to inmantras, theGayatri mantra explains a meditation on the brilliance of the sun), it is often played in aLakshmi puja in temple or at home.
In the story ofDhruva, the divine conch plays a special part. The warriors of ancient India blew conch shells to announce battle, as is described in the beginning of the war of Kurukshetra, in the Hindu epic theMahabharata.
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. According to Hindu mythology,Devas (gods) andAsuras (demons) once decided to churn the ocean to get a special divine nectar. This divine nectar, also known asamrit, was known to give immortality to whoever drank it. All the gods were on one side of it and the demons were on the other end. The churning (samudra manthan) produced a number of things from the ocean. One of the first things to come out of it was lethal poison calledhalahala. Everyone was terrified, as the poison was potent enough to destroy entire creation, so they went to Lord Shiva for protection and he consumed the poison to safeguard the universe. Lord Shiva took the poison in his mouth, but did not swallow it.Shankha also was one of divine objects that was obtained fromsamudra manthan.[citation needed]
Also, the sound of the conch is believed to drive away the evil spirits.[citation needed]
The blowing of the conch or "theshankha" needs a tremendous power and respiratory capacity. Hence, blowing it daily helps keep the lungs healthy.[citation needed]
A newlywed Bengali bride wears bangles calledshakha paula, made from coral and conch-shell powder. They have been a part of Bengali custom and tradition. In an ancient era, the Bengali farming community is thought to have resided near the river. They collected conch shells and powdered them to create bangles. They also used red coral for the bangles. They gave these beautiful bangles to their wives, as they could not afford ivory bangles. They were also known as poor-man's ivory, as they were cheap substitute for ivory bangles.[39]
InLord of the Flies, a group of boys stranded on an uninhabited island use a conch shell to gather for meetings, and only the person holding it is allowed to speak. The conch comes to represent structure, democracy, and civilization. Its destruction later in the story marks the complete breakdown of order and the boys’ descent into savagery.
