RE: - Conch Vs Whelk

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Diet:Algae (Only!!) Cannot Eat MeatCarnivorous (Live Prey or Scavenger). Cannot Eat Algae or Plant Material Table 1:Characteristics of stromboidean conchs and generalized whelks. Characters that may always be used to separate the conchs and whelks are indicated by pink rows. Characters that may sometimes be used to separate conchs and whelks are indicated by green rows.Group:ConchWhelkTaxonomic Group:Superfamily StromboideaFamilies Buccinidae, Muricidae, Fasciolariidae, Melongenidae.Number of Species:Overall:≈ 200≈10,000+In Hobby:3-10?? 100+Size:Up to 40 cm (16 inches)Up to 60 cm (24 inches)Color:VariableVariableShell Characteristics:Shell Shape:Biconical, Low SpiresBiconical, High and Low SpiresAperture:Ovoid To Rectangular. Flaring In Mature Animals.Ovoid To Teardrop Shaped, To Rectangular. Generally Not Flaring In Mature Animals.Outer Apertural Lip:Often Thickened, Often With Flaring Projections Or SpinesOften Thickened, Often With “Denticlesâ€Siphonal Notch:Present, Often BroadPresent, Narrow, “Constrained†And Elongated To Form Siphonal CanalSiphonal Canal:AbsentPresent, Often EnclosedSoft Part Anatomy:Body Color:Variable, Tends To Greens Or GraysVariable, All Colors, Whites, Tans, Predominate But All Other Colors May Be Found.Siphon (= Hollow “Breathing†Tube):Short (Less Than One Shell Length)Long (Often More Than One Shell Length)Proboscis (= Tube With Mouth At The Tip):Long, RobustLong, Slender To RobustEyes:Stromboidean Eye With EyeballWhelk Eyespot Without EyeballBehavior:Locomotion:When Small = Muscular Creeping When Large = LurchingAll Sizes = Muscular CreepingDiet:Algae (Only!!) Cannot Eat MeatCarnivorous (Live Prey or Scavenger). Cannot Eat Algae or Plant MaterialExamination of the above table shows that a close examination of any “mystery†whelk-like snail can easily determine if the animal is stromboidean conch that would be a beneficial algal-eating animal in reef aquarium, or if it is a predatory whelk capable of destructive predation within the reef tank. Obviously, not all characteristics are of equivalent importance, but for the ease of differentiating the “good†from the “bad,†in this case it is probably best to “Look ‘em straight in the eyes.†The highly modified “eyeball†characteristic of the stromboideans is found in no other group of benthic snails. So... if the “eyes have it,†it is a Strombus or a near relative. The presence of front edge of the shell being modified into a broad siphonal notch and the absence of a narrow siphonal canal are useful correlative characters. The lurching locomotion (also know as “saltatory†locomotion) is found in the stromboideans and a couple of other related snail groups, but never in the whelks. Finally, all whelks are carnivores or scavengers, and no stromboidean can eat meat. So, watching the animal feed will also help you confirm its identity.planetary-gemology ; sacred-objects CC: ; ; ; vedic astrology From: rsbj66Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 11:08:01 -0800 FOOLED: Please forward this to Iskcon and Hindu TemplesTHE SACRED LAKSHMI CONCH(sinistral turbinella pyrum)By Richard Shaw Brown, PG RARE LAKSHMI CONCH: Dakshin Shank: The Right-Spiralling Conch ShellConch Shells which spiral to the right are very rare and considered especially sacred. The Lakshmi Conch shell is a sacred manifestation of Supreme Goddess Lakshmi, and is most effectively used to bath a genuine Gandaki vajra-kita Shalagram Shila (ammonite from Gandaki River in Nepal having chakra cut by Vajra-kita worms 140 million years ago). The TOP picture showing a genuine Lakshmi Conch with a genuine Shalagram Shila is one of a kind. VERY RARE PHOTO.'Valampuri' Dakshin Conch & Normal ShankFact: The left side opening OR the right side opening Turbinella Pyrum Indian Conch - with 3 to 7 ridges in the conch cavity, and special internal structure is the ONLY Shank that is Vedic. The normal left-side opening Conch is very low price, even less than the bogus ones (Lightning Whelk), and only the Indian Shank is correct for puja.Genuine Valampuri Lakshmi Shank Turbinella Pyrum Conch shells sell by the gram. Normal size is about 60-120 grams. Depending on quality and number of ridges in the conch cavity they sell for between Rs. 3,000 up to Rs. 20,000 per gram. This means that a genuine Lakshmi Shank can be had for thousands of dollars ONLY. No one has any excuse to use a non-conch shell. Everyone can use either a $2 normal Shank OR a $20,000 Lakshmi Shank. BUT, USE A SHANK (conch), ONLY!Genuine Sri Lakshmi Conch (sinistral turbinella pyrum) Lightning Whelk (busycon contrarium) is NOT a Lakshmi ConchWARNING!!! --- Lightning Whelk: Many temples and puja dealers mistake a Lightning Whelk as a Lakshmi Conch. They are totally wrong. There is ONLY one true Lakshmi Shank, viz., sinistral turbinella pyrum, and the photos here are a darshan of the REAL thing....It is far better to use a normal left-handed white smooth shank, rather than another type of shell, like a Whelk, that is not even related to a Shank, and which is NOT recommended as pure. Only a Shank is auspicious for puja, what to speak of a shank that opens on the right side, viz., A Lakshmi Shank. New Email addresses available on Get the Email name you've always wanted on the new @ymail and @rocketmail.Hurry before someone else does! check out the rest of the Windows Liveâ„¢.More than mail–Windows Liveâ„¢ goes way beyond your inbox.More than messages