My Life Drawing shell is called a Conch Shell. Gastropod mollusks use these shells as their homes! The shells are a built-up exoskeleton of calcium carbonate. The folded lip of the shell is where the mollusk is able to peak its foot out and jump itself forward. Conches grow this flared lip on their shells only upon reaching sexual maturity. The fold of the shell is usually developed after about three years of “growing”. Some species of mollusks can live up to forty years and their shells can grow to lengths of twelve inches.

From what I’ve gathered, my shell is specifically a Queen Conch shell. The Queen Conch, Strombus gigas, first appeared over sixty-five million years ago. The shell itself was used for many things such as pots, chisels, and scrapers! Conch shells have also been known to be used as weapons over a fighter’s hand. These weapons, however, would only be right-handed due to the growing direction of all Conch shells. Today, Conch shells are used for jewelry, art and decoration, occasionally as building materials, and are sold as souvenirs. Conches consume a diet of mostly plant life including sea grass which they feed upon at night when predators are less active. Most of the day a Conch spends its time buried in the sandy ocean floor. This careful behavior seems to aid the Conch shells’ growth and longevity.