The conch's mantle, a thin layer of tissue located between the body and the shell, creates the shell. The conch builds the hard shell from calcium carbonate that it extracts from the seas. The lip of the shell is flared and there are spines to deter its many predators. The smaller pair of tentacles is used for the sense of smell and the sense of touch. Young conchs can bury themselves in the sand when they are in danger.
Conches eat grasses, algae, and floating organic debris.