Queen conch

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Queen conch

Lobatus gigas

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Code

564730

Summary

Saltwater. Gastropods. Is a species of large edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family of true conches. It is herbivorous and lives in seagrass beds. The adult animal has a very large, solid and heavy shell, with 9 to 11 whorls, with knob-like spines on the shoulder, a flared thick, outer lip and a characteristic pink-coloured aperture (opening). The flared lip is absent in younger specimens.

To be confused with

- Milk Conch Strombus costatus
- Rooster conch Lobatus gallus

Characteristics

Size: 15 to 23 cm, max 35 cm.
Colour: Outside shell is whitish with orange blotches, inside is a pink-coloured aperture.
Shape: Very large, solid and heavy shell, with 9 to 11 whorls, with knob-like spines on the shoulder, a flared thick, outer lip.

Habitat environment and ecology

Inhabits coral reefs. Large, solid and heavy shell, with 9 to 11 whorls, with knob-like spines on the shoulder, a flared thick, outer lip and a characteristic pink-coloured aperture (opening). It is herbivorous and lives in seagrass beds.