Crown Conch Shells of the Melongenidae Family
One Crown Conch Shell of the Melongenidae Family can be found in this website:
Pacific Crown Conch Shell, Melongena patula. A representative of the Melongenidae Family of Crown Conch Shells.
Phylogeny: Crown Conch Shells of the Melongenidae Family are large gastropod mollusks in the Neogastropoda order. Neogastropods are characterized by having a long siphonal canal, a well developed siphonal notch, and a specialized radula. Many species in this order have a narrow aperture. Neogastropods are primarily marine snails and most of the well-known shell families are in this order. The Melongenidae Family is in the superfamily Buccinoidea, which is one of seven superfamilies in this order. Superfamily Buccinoidea consists of twenty families. There are no subfamilies in the Melongenidae Family but there are eight genera – Brunneifusus with three species, Hemifusus with thirteen species, Melongena with four species, Pugilina with four species, Saginafusus with two species, Taphon with two species, Volegalea with five species, and Volema with three species. Shells in this family are commonly called Crown Conchs, Melon Conchs, Whelks, or Melongenids.
Description: Crown Conch Shells are medium to large in size, sturdy, and either spindle-shaped or pear-shaped in outline. Their shells consist of a large body whorl and a spire that can range from low to high. Some species have a series of spines or knobs along the shoulder of their whorls, giving rise to the name “Crown Conch”. These spines may extend to the outer lip of the aperture. The exterior may be smooth or sculpted with spiral cords or axial ridges. Most have large apertures that may run half to most of the body length. Their apertures are ovate, and narrow anteriorly. The siphon canal is open, and may be short to very long. The columella and outer lip are smooth. Shells in this family tend to be whitish, cream, tan, brown or gray in color, often with darker bands or stripes. The operculum is thick, corneous, and claw-shaped. Most of these shells have a thick periostracum. Shells in this family range in size from 5.0 cm (2.0 inches) to 27.5 cm (10.8 inches) in length.
Habitat and Distribution: Crown Conch Snails are found on soft substrates in bays, estuaries, brackish water, mangrove forests, or protected offshore waters. They are generally shallow water inhabitants that reside intertidally, and at depths up to 115 m (377 feet). They are found worldwide in subtropical and tropical seas. There are five species in the Melongenidae Family found in Mexican waters.
Natural History: The majority of Crown Conch Snails are predators consuming bivalves and gastropods as-well-as other Crown Conchs. However, some are scavengers, feeding on dead animals, or deposit feeders, consuming detritus. In turn they are preyed upon by crabs, fish, sea stars, and other conchs and murexes. They are gonochoric and reproduce sexually, with internal fertilization. Their eggs are laid as clusters or string-like masses. Larger species have been harvested as a food source throughout human history. Now most of the family members are collected by shell collectors for their beautiful shells.