Conch (/kɒŋk, kɒntʃ/) is a common name of a number of different medium-to-large-sized sea snail shells, generally those of large snails whose shell has a high spire and a noticeable siphonal canal (in other words, the shell comes to a noticeable point at both ends). In North America, a conch is often identified as a queen conch, indigenous to the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Queen conchs are valued for seafood and are also used as fish bait.