lightning conch

mollusk

Also known as: Busycon contrarium

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The lightning conch (Busycon contrarium) is a type of marine snail belonging to the family Melongenidae. It is found on the Atlantic coast of the United States and is known for being a clam eater.1

True conchs, belonging to the family Strombidae, are distinct from the lightning conch. These feed on plant matter in warm waters and include species like the queen conch (Strombus gigas) and spider conchs (Lambis).1

The term "conch" can also refer to extinct brachiopods, like those in the genus Conchidium, which are valuable index fossils from the Silurian Period. However, the lightning conch is a mollusk, specifically a snail.21

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conch
canaliculatum) and the lightning conch (B. contrarium), both about 18 cm long and common on the Atlantic coast of the United States. Another melongenid is the Australian trumpet, or baler (Syrinx aruanus), which may be more than 60 cm long—the largest living snail. It is rivaled by the…
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canaliculatum) and the lightning conch (B. contrarium), both about 18 cm long and common on the Atlantic coast of the United States. Another melongenid is the Australian trumpet, or baler (Syrinx aruanus), which may be more than 60 cm long—the largest living snail. It is rivaled by the…
Read More