Shell Identification

[paul monfils]

Hi again!

#1A,B  is an immature Queen Conch or Pink Conch, Strombus gigas.  The lip has been trimmed and the apex cut off, probably to make a "shell horn".  If you know how to blow a trumpet or bugle, you can get a pretty impressive sound out of a shell like this.

#2A,B is the Florida Crown Conch (not closely related to the true conchs, in spite of the name), Melongena corona.

#3A,B is the Caribbean Crown Conch, Melongena melongena, from the mid to southern Caribbean.

#4A,B is either the Florida Fighting Conch (Strombus alatus) or the Caribbean Fighting Conch (Strombus pugilis).  The shell is too beachworn to be sure. The shape suggests S. alatus but the orange color suggests S. pugilis.

Cheers!  <span class="petit">--Last edited by Paul Monfils on 2009-05-17 05:23:41 --</span>