Details
Aliger gigas
The queen conch is a large Caribbean sea snail with a heavy shell and pink interior. It grazes algae across seagrass beds and sandy shallows.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It inhabits warm western Atlantic coasts, reefs, seagrass beds, and sandy bottoms. Juveniles use shallow nursery areas, while adults move slowly over more open bottom.
Shell length 15-35 cm; weight 1-2.5 kg. Adult shells are thick, with a broad flared lip and a pale pink inner surface. Long eyestalks and a strong foot extend from the aperture.
Diurnal and sometimes seen in loose groups, it moves in short lunges rather than a smooth crawl. The hard operculum helps push the body forward over sand.
A herbivore, it grazes algae, microalgae, and plant material from seagrass and bottom surfaces. It scrapes food rather than chasing it.
Males and females mate, and females lay long egg masses in sand. Larvae drift in the plankton before settling to the seafloor.
It is listed as Vulnerable and is sensitive to harvest for meat and shells. Marine reserves and fishery controls are important for local recovery.
