Conch shell

タイトルまたは説明

Lobatus gigas, commonly known as the queen conch, is a species of large edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family of true conches, the Strombidae. This species is one of the largest molluscs native to the Tropical North Western Atlantic, from Bermuda to Brazil, reaching up to *5.2 cm (*3.9 in) in shell length.

The queen conch is herbivorous and lives in seagrass beds, although the exact habitat varies during the different stages of its development. The adult animal has a very large, solid and heavy shell, with knob-like spines on the shoulder, a flared thick outer lip and a characteristic pink-coloured aperture (opening). The flared lip is completely absent in younger specimens.

The shell and soft parts of living Lobatus gigas serve as a home to several different kinds of commensal animals, including slipper nails, porcelain crabs and cardinal fish. Its parasites include coccidians.The shell is sold as a souvenir and used as a decorative object. Historically,Native American and indigenous Caribbean peoples used parts of the shell to create various tools.

Conch meat has been eaten by humans for centuries, and has traditionally been an important part of the diet in many islands in the West Indies. It is consumed raw, marinated, minced or chopped in a wide variety of dishes, such as salads, chowder, fritters, soups, stew, pâtés and other local recipes. In the Spanish-speaking regions, for example in the Dominican Republic, Lobatus gigas meat is known as lambí.

Queen conch shells were used by Native Americans and Caribbean Indians in a wide variety of ways. The South Florida Indians (such as the Tequesta), the Carib, the Arawak and Taíno used conch shells to fabricate tools (such as knives, axe heads and chisels), jewelry, cookware and also used them as blowing horns. Aztecs used the shell as part of jewelry mosaics like the double-headed serpent. Brought by explorers, queen conch shells quickly became a popular asset in early modern Europe. In the late *7th century they were widely used as decoration over fireplace mantels and English gardens, among other places. In contemporary times, queen conch shells are mainly utilized in handicraft. Shells are made into cameos, bracelets and lamps,but have also been traditionally used as doorstops or decorations by families of seafaring men.The shell of the queen conch has been, and continues to be, popular as a decorative object.

Very rarely (about 1 in *0,**0 conchs), a conch pearl may be found within the mantle of the animal. Though they occur in a range of colors corresponding to the colors of the interior of the shell, the pink conch pearls are considered to be the most desirable. These pearls are considered semi-precious, a popular tourist curio, and the most attractive among them have been used to create necklaces and earrings. A conch pearl is a non-nacreous pearl (formerly referred to by some sources as a 'calcareous concretion'), which differs from most pearls sold as gemstones