Pleuroploca gigantea is commonly called the Horse Conch and the Giant Band Shell. It is a Classes Caudofoveata Aplacophora Polyplacophora - Chitons Monoplacophora Bivalvia - Bivalves Scaphopoda - Tusk shells Gastropoda - Snails and Slugs Cephalopoda - Squids, Octopuses, etc. The mollusks or molluscs are the large and diverse phylum Mollusca, which includes a variety of familiar creatures well-known for their decorative shells or as seafood. These range from tiny... mollusk, a Subclass Subclass Eogastropoda     Patellogastropoda Subclass Orthogastropoda   Superorder Cocculiniformia   Superorder Hot Vent Taxa     Neomphaolida   Superorder Vetigastropoda   Superorder Neritaemorphi     Neritopsina   Superorder Caenogastropoda     Architaenioglossa     Sorbeoconcha   Superorder... gastropod, a Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica) The name snail applies to most members of the molluscan Class Gastropoda that have coiled shells. Other gastropods, which lack a conspicuous shell, are commonly called slugs, and are scattered throughout groups that primarily include snails. Snails are found in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments... snail, but it is not a true A conch shell A Conch is a sea creature, a mollusk, and more specifically, a marine gastropod. True conches belong to the genus Strombus, under the Family Strombidae, but many other Gastropods have common names using conch. While most Strombid species are extinct, at least 65 species are living. Of... conch, as it is not in the genus Strombus. It is found along the Atlantic Coast of the Americas from State nickname: Tar Heel State Other U.S. States Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Governor Michael Easley Official languages English Area 139,509 km² (28th)  - Land 126,256 km²  - Water 13,227 km² (9.5%) Population (2000)  - Population 8,049,313 (11th)  - Density 63... North Carolina to The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. Spanning a vast area between central South America and the Atlantic Ocean, it borders Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela... Brazil.

It is the largest snail in the Americas and one of the largest univalves in the world. It can grow to 24 inches (60 cm). The body can retreat entirely into the shell and remain there for months if unfavorable conditions prevail.

It was made the state seashell of State nickname: Everglade State, Sunshine State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Governor Jeb Bush Official languages English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17.9%) Population (2000)  - Population 15,982,378 (4th)  - Density... Florida in 1969. The shell is much sought after due to its bright orange color and size.

Archealogical and Anthropological References

In classic Mayan art, the Horse Conch is shown being utilized in many ways including as paint and ink holders for elite scribes and as bugle or trumpet.

Taxonomy

Pleuroploca gigantea is classified under Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Molluska, Class Gastropoda, Subclass Orthogastropoda (Ponder & Lindberg, 1996) (previously Prosobranchia), Superorder Caenogastropoda (Cox, 1960), Order Sorbeoconcha (Ponder & Lindberg, 1997), Infraorder Superfamilies Buccinoidea Cancellarioidea Conoidea Muricoidea The Neogastropoda used to be an order of prosobranch gastropods in the taxonomy of Thiele (1921). They are now included in the infraorder Neoogastropoda Cox, 1960. A more detailed account about the discussion on the taxonomy of the Gastropoda is given in Gastropoda, Archaeogastropoda and... Neogastropoda, and Family Fasciolariidaeand.

External Links

• Animal Diversity Web: Pleuroploca gigantea (http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pleuroploca_gigantea.html)