Conch

ocean · shells · spiral builders

Spiral shell shape. A conch's shell grows in a perfect spiral pattern, kind of like a staircase that curls around and around. The snail lives in the newest, biggest room at the opening and builds new chambers as it grows larger.

Medium to large sized. Conches are bigger than many other sea snails, ranging from medium to quite large depending on the species. Some can grow shells the size of your hand or even larger.

Ocean home dwellers. Conches live in shallow ocean waters and sandy or rocky sea bottoms around the world. They're especially common in warm, tropical seas where they graze on algae and small plants.

Make sounds when blown. Empty conch shells are so smooth and shaped just right that people can blow into them to make a loud, musical horn sound. This made them popular as ancient instruments in many cultures.

Special feeding tube. Conches have a special tube called a siphonal canal that sticks out from their shell, which helps them breathe and sense food in the water around them.