Family Strombidae

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Gastropoda
Order Mesogastropoda
Superfamily Stromboidea
Family Strombidae Rafinesque, 1815
Genus Lambis Röding, 1798 (9 living species)
Genus Strombus Linné, 1758 (55 living species)
Genus Terebellum Lamarck, 1799 (1 living species)
Genus Tibia Röding, 1798 (6 living species)
Genus Varicospira Eames, 1952 (3 living species)

Members of the Order Mesogastropoda usually have seven teeth positioned crosswise on the radula and a reproductive organ called a verge (Ruppert and Barnes 1994). The family Strombidae includes the true conchs, tibias and their allies. Most are extinct. Of the living strombids, most occur in the Indo-Pacific region. Only six species of strombids are found in the wider Caribbean region, and all of them are in the genus Strombus.

Strombids have long eye stalks, a long and narrow aperture, and a siphonal canal with an indentation near the anterior end called a stromboid notch (Hyman 1967, Abbott 1974). Unlike most snails, which glide slowly across the substrate on their foot, strombids have a characteristic leaping motion, using their pointed, sickle-shaped, horny operculum to propel themselves forward in a leaping motion (Parker 1922). They grow a flared lip upon reaching sexual maturity, and they lay eggs in long, gelatinous strands.

Strombus gigas Linné, 1758, is the most thoroughly studied strombid to date. It occurs in the tropical and sub tropical waters of the wider Caribbean region including Mexico, southern Florida, and the Bahamas, north to Bermuda. It lives in seagrass meadows and on sandy substrate feeding on detritus, macroalgae and epiphytes. Strombus gigas is commonly known as the queen conch (pronounced "konk"), pink conch, caracol reina, caracol rosa, caracol rosado, caracol de pala, cobo, botuto, guarura, and lambi. The nacre of its large shell (15-31 cm, 6-12 in in length) blushes a sunrise of pink, yellow, peach and cream colors. And its meat is delicious whether raw, cracked or frittered, in chowders, salads or conchburgers. Regretably, populations are greatly depleted throughout its range.

To view photos of five other well-known Caribbean Strombus species, click on the links below. Distribution and shell length data are from Abbott (1974).

Strombus alatus Gmelin, 1791. The Florida fighting conch occurs from North Carolina, along both coasts of Florida, to Texas. It is not found in the West Indies. Shell length is 7-10 cm (3-4 in).

Strombus costatus Gmelin, 1791. The milk conch, also known as harbour conch and caracol blanco, occurs in south Florida, the West Indies, Bermuda and Brazil. Shell length is 10-18 cm (4-7 in).

Strombus gallus Linné, 1758. The relatively uncommon rooster-tail conch occurs in southeast Florida, the West Indies, Bermuda and Brazil. Shell length is 10-15 cm (4-6 in).

Strombus pugilis Linné, 1758. The West Indian fighting conch, or uńa, occurs from southeast Florida to the West Indies, south to Brazil. Shell length is 7-10 cm (3-4 in).

Strombus raninus Gmelin, 1791. The hawk-wing conch occurs in southeast Florida, the West Indies, Bermuda and Brazil. Shell length is 5-10 cm (2-4 in).

The following strombid species are included in titles in the strombid bibliography:

Lambis lambis
Lambis terebellum
Rimella
Strombus bituberculatus
Strombus bubonius
Strombus cf. bulla
Strombus canaliculatus
Strombus canarium
Strombus (Canarium) mutabilis ochroglottis
Strombus (Canarium) wilsoni
Strombus (Conomurex) decorus
Strombus (Conomurex) persicus
Strombus costatus
Strombus decorus
Strombus (Euprotomus) listeri
Strombus galeatus
Strombus gallus
Strombus gibberulus
Strombus gigas virrilli
Strombus goliath
Strombus gracilior
Strombus kleckhamae
Strombus kleckhamae boholensis
Strombus luhuanus
Strombus maculatus
Strombus plicatus sibbaldi
Strombus pugilis alatus
Strombus raninus
Strombus samba
Strombus terebellatus
Strombus tricornis
Strombus (Tricornis) oldi
Strombus vomer vomer
Tibia

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