Editing Conch (section)

{{Short description|Shell or sea snails}}
{{for multi|the Indian ritual conch|Shankha|other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2020}}
[[File:Queen Conch (Lobatus gigas).jpg|thumb|Apertural view of an adult queen conch ''[[Lobatus gigas]]'' with the foot, eyes and snout visible]]
[[File:Melongena corona 2.jpg|thumb|A shell of a dead Florida crown conch ''[[Melongena corona]]'' inhabited by a [[hermit crab]]]]

'''Conch''' ({{IPAc-en|US|k|ɑː|ŋ|k|,_|k|ɑː|n|tʃ}} {{respell|KONK}}, {{respell|KONCH}}, {{IPAc-en|UK|k|ɒ|n|tʃ}} {{respell|KONCH}})<ref>{{cite book |last=Wells|first=J. C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bxviDAAAQBAJ |title=Sounds Fascinating: Further Observations on English Phonetics and Phonology |date=2016 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-1-107-15779-8 |page=11}}</ref> is a [[common name]] of a number of different medium-to-large-sized [[sea snail]]s. Conch shells typically have a high [[Spire (mollusc)|spire]] and a noticeable [[siphonal canal]] (in other words, the shell comes to a noticeable point on both ends).

Conchs that are sometimes referred to as "true conchs" are [[Marine (ocean)|marine]] [[gastropod]]s in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Strombidae]], specifically in the genus ''[[Strombus]]'' and other closely related genera. For example, ''[[Aliger gigas]]'', the queen conch, is a true conch. True conchs are identified by their long spire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldman |first=Jaime |title=Library Guides: Central and South Florida Gastropod Seashell Identification Guide: Conchs |url=https://libguides.nova.edu/shellidentification/conchs |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=libguides.nova.edu |language=en}}</ref>

Many other species are also often called "conch", but are not at all closely related to the family Strombidae, including ''[[Melongena]]'' species (family [[Melongenidae]]) and the horse conch ''[[Triplofusus papillosus]]'' (family [[Fasciolariidae]]). Species commonly referred to as conches also include the sacred chank or ''[[shankha]]'' shell (''[[Turbinella pyrum]]'') and other ''Turbinella'' species in the family [[Turbinellidae]]. The Triton's trumpet (family [[Charoniidae]]) may also be fashioned into a horn and referred to as a conch.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hays |first=Jeffrey |title=Conches: Characteristics, Species and Horns {{!}} Sea Life, Islands and Oceania — Facts and Details |url=https://ioa.factsanddetails.com/article/entry-281.html |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=ioa.factsanddetails.com |language=en}}</ref>