Strombus gigas (queen conch) 2 (24466211606)

Description:

Description: Strombus gigas Linnaeus, 1758 - queen conch (apical view) (public display, Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, Sanibel Island, Florida, USA) This species is also known as Eustrombus gigas and Lobatus gigas. The gastropods (snails & slugs) are a group of molluscs that occupy marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments. Most gastropods have a calcareous external shell (the snails). Some lack a shell completely, or have reduced internal shells (the slugs & sea slugs & pteropods). Most members of the Gastropoda are marine. Most marine snails are herbivores (algae grazers) or predators/carnivores. The queen conch, Strombus gigas, is a large gastropod that occupies shallow-water to moderately shallow-water seagrass beds, sandy seafloors, and rubbly seafloors. It occurs in tropical to subtropical areas of the western Atlantic Basin, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. From museum signage: "Strombus gigas Linnaeus, 1758 Queen conch The queen conch is well known as the delicacy used in conch fritters and other Caribbean island dishes. This species is protected in Florida but is harvested in the Bahamas and other Caribbean islands. The presence of a large, flared lip indicates mature individuals. Immature specimens lack the flared lip and are known as "rollers". Given its value as a commercial species, a great deal of biological research is devoted to the queen conch every year." Classification: Animalia, Mollusca, Gastropoda, Strombidae More info. at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobatus_gigas. Date: 4 January 2016, 12:12. Source: Strombus gigas (queen conch) 2. Author: James St. John.