{"id":4331,"date":"2015-03-02T06:41:58","date_gmt":"2015-03-02T11:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/?p=4331"},"modified":"2024-05-21T15:54:18","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T19:54:18","slug":"whats-in-a-name-conch-vs-whelk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/whats-in-a-name-conch-vs-whelk\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s In a Name? Conch vs. Whelk"},"content":{"rendered":"

By TERRI KIRBY HATHAWAY
\nSeashells of North Carolina<\/em><\/a> photos by SCOTT TAYLOR
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Posted March 2, 2015<\/em><\/p>\n

To quote Juliet in Shakespeare\u2019s Romeo and Juliet<\/em>,<\/p>\n

\n

What\u2019s in a name? That which we call a rose
\nBy any other name would smell as sweet.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

These two lines imply that the nature of anything is more important than what it is called. But, for a taxonomist who classifies, names and orders things \u2014 my first \u201cscience-y\u201d job as a marine biologist fresh out of college \u2014 that statement just doesn\u2019t ring true!<\/p>\n

Through several blog posts, I\u2019m going to share my pet naming peeves with you \u2014 common mistakes made by many people. Maybe some will read my posts and correct themselves, but I\u2019m not holding my breath.<\/p>\n

First up: conch vs. whelk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

\"Milk
True conchs, such as this milk conch. are herbivores usually found in tropical waters.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
\n

\"Photo
Whelks, such as this knobbed whelk, are carnivores and scavengers that live in temperate waters.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

I can\u2019t count the number of times that I\u2019ve heard someone misidentify a whelk by calling it a conch (pronounced konk). To be fair, the word \u201cconch\u201d comes from the Latin word \u201cconchylia,\u201d which translates into the English word mollusk. And many people use the term \u201cconch\u201d to refer to any large marine snail. Conchology is the study of shells, while malacology is the study of mollusks, the animals that make and live in those shells.<\/p>\n

Now, for a little scientific background: The phylum Mollusca encompasses all soft-bodied animals with a shell that serves as protection and support. Mollusks are separated into five classes, representatives of which can be found in North Carolina waters, both marine and estuarine. The classes of mollusks are:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Gastropoda: one coiled shell or reduced\/no shell, such as snails and slugs;<\/li>\n
  2. Pelecypoda or bivalvia: two hinged shells, such as clams and oysters;<\/li>\n
  3. Scaphopoda: tusk shell;<\/li>\n
  4. Monoplacophora: chiton; and<\/li>\n
  5. Cephalopoda: reduced\/no shell, such as squid, octopus and cuttlefish.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The classes are further divided into families. The Gastropoda class includes the family Buccinidae, where whelks belong, and the family Strombidae, comprised of true conchs. In North Carolina, we have knobbed, lightning and channeled whelks along the entire coast, while milk conchs and Florida fighting conchs may be found south of Cape Hatteras. And even though the shells have a similar look, there are definite differences between the animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    \"Lightning
    Lightning whelks coil to and open on the left, and use the sharp edge of their shells to break into bivalves.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
    		\n

    \"Channeled
    Channeled whelks coil to the right and have a channel along the top whorls.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Whelks are carnivores and scavengers in temperate waters, feeding on bivalves and on dead animals and detritus. They crawl around like a snail, using their muscular foot, leading with the narrow end of their shell. Their shells have a wide whorled posterior end, and a long, slender anterior end along which the animal\u2019s siphon is extended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
    \n

    \"Florida
    The Florida fighting conch is found offshore between North Carolina and Texas. Note the stromboid notch near the shell opening.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
    		\n

    \"The
    The horse conch, which is the largest gastropod in North America, is not a conch or whelk but belongs to the tulip snail family.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    Conchs usually are found in more tropical areas. They are herbivores, feeding on algae and sometimes on detritus. They do not crawl around, but use a lurching movement by dragging themselves by their operculum or trapdoor. Near the opening of a true conch shell is a \u201cstromboid notch\u201d through which the animal can extend one of its two stalked eyes.<\/p>\n

    To further confuse this issue, the horse conch \u2014 the largest gastropod in North America waters that can grow as long as 24 inches \u2014 is neither a conch nor a whelk! It belongs to the tulip snail family (Fasciolariidae). As a carnivore, it feeds on other tulip snails, as well as whelks and conchs.<\/p>\n

    Conch chowder and conch fritters in Florida and the Caribbean are made from true conchs (Strombidae). Our eastern North Carolina conch chowder<\/a> is more than likely made from whelks (Buccinidae). Mollusk chowder by any other name is just as delicious! And if you\u2019re wondering about that Italian dish called scungilli (recipe here<\/a>, and also Lidia Bastianich’s scungilli in marinara sauce with linguine), it\u2019s made with either whelk or conch \u2014 but I\u2019m not sure which one.<\/p>\n

    With a bow to the Bard (and Gertrude Stein and Rudyard Kipling), remember that it was Terri Kirby Hathaway who said: \u201cA whelk is a whelk and a conch is a conch and never the twain shall meet\u201d!<\/p>\n

    Next up, a discussion of other confusing common names. Don\u2019t miss it!<\/p>\n

    To learn more about conch and whelk, get a copy of\u00a0<\/em> Seashells of North Carolina<\/a> by Hugh Porter and Lynn Houser.
    \n<\/em><\/p>\n

    Other References <\/strong><\/p>\n