CONCH SHELLS & CONCHUPISCENCE ON ABACO
Most conchs encountered in daily life are lying peacefully on the beach; or are artfully displayed; or are found in conch heaps (often in the vicinity of restaurants) like the ones below at Sandy Point. 
These shells at Sandy Point are so plentiful that they form a small spit of ‘land’ into the sea
An attractive display of conch shells in Marsh Harbour
A less formal arrangement along the jetty at Man o’ War Cay (after a storm)
It’s easy to forget that these shells are more than just a garden adornment, or pretty containers for a ubiquitous Caribbean food. Under the sea, and not very far at that, are living creatures going about their daily lives.
And that includes reproducing. This sounds as if it might be a cumbersome process, but (like porcupines) they seem to manage. Here is a pair preparing to mate. The male behind is presumably about to… well never mind. I’ve never seen the process, so it’s a case of using imagination. Or just accepting that, whatever it is that they do, it works. [I haven’t located a video online – I’ll post one if I do]
You’ll find some more about Conchs in a previous post HERE, including 12 Unputdownable Conch Facts, notes on conservation matters and… a photo of Honeychile Rider, arguably the most famous conch-carrier ever. Oh, she was fictional, you say? But I always though she… How very disappointing.
And if you want to know how to clean a conch, a dude will show you in a video on this page HERE
Finally, check out the very informative website COMMUNITY CONCH, a charitable conservation organisation 
Photo credits: Melinda, Clare, RH
