Conch Eye - Strombus

True conches have long eye stalks, with colorful ring-marked eyes at the tips. As a long time resident-visitor of South Florida, I have always loved conches - ...
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True conches have long eye stalks, with colorful ring-marked eyes at the tips. As a long time resident-visitor of South Florida, I have always loved conches - the soup and the shells. Only now, as an underwater photographer am I really in love with these amaizing creatures - especially their eyes. There is something very E.T. like - very intriguing. Conchs have two-lensed eyes at the end of stalks (ommatophores). A black pupil and colored iris is found at the tip along with a sensory tentacle used to feel objects. The eyes cannot be fully retracted underneath their shell and extend slightly. To compensate for this, they can regenerate an amputated eye. Yes you just read that right… they are unique in the fact that they can re-grow their lost eyes!

New eyes will regrow at the tip of the eyestalk within five to six days. They initially appear smaller with hollow balls of cells and little pigment, but within 14 days the eyes are fully formed and as good as new.
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