The
Queen Conch (strombus gigas or lobatus gigas) is a very large marine mollusk, found from the Bermudas to Brazil, whose flesh is very popular with tourists and local people. In fact, it is one of the typical foods of Creole cuisine where it is accommodated in many ways, in the form of stew, fritters or soup. If the most imposing specimens are 24 to 29 cm long and 700 to 1,500 g of total weight, the average size observed is nevertheless close to 20 cm. Females are larger than males. Queen Conchs feed on algae and organic detritus in shallow sandy areas. They live in shallow, warm waters on coral reefs or sea grass beds.
When in certain areas their breeding period is often unique and takes place at the same period, it generally goes from April to August with a reproductive peak in July.
When you click below on the left over 'Watch', you will be able to see a male that I met on June 21, 2009 chasing a female, bigger than him, in order to mate.
Associated with an excellent taste quality, this very beautiful shell is that of the Queen conch (lobatus gigas) and it contributed to put it in danger because it was the cause of an unfortunate devastating trade. Considered an endangered species, it has been farmed on a marine farm since 1984 in the Turks & Caicos Islands in the Bahamas. Its shell is heavy, a bright pink, orange or yellow inside and it reaches its maximum size after 3 years. It then begins to form a "lip" which widens from the shell. The shell continues to thicken throughout its life. By clicking on 'Watch', you will be able to see a male that I met on June 21, 2009 chasing a female, bigger than him, in order to mate.
... if interested by this mollusk's biology read the document 1 in English: "The Geography, Habitat and Biology of the Queen Conch"
... or yet thee document 2 in English released by the Scientific Publications Office of National Marine Fisheries Service) (June 6, 2017) under the following title "Queen conch, Strombus gigas (Linnaeus 1758)".
