Appearance
- Large, pink-lipped shell; spindle shaped with thick yellowish outer coating
- Shell has short conical spire with blunt spines on shoulder
- Soft body with black-speckled foot and a snout-like mouth
- Bright yellow eyes perched on the end of two stalks
Similar Species
Other marine snails like the Milk conch.
Size
Up to 12 inches (8 pounds).
Habitat
Sandy and hard bottoms and coral rubble; occasionally in seagrass beds; found in Caribbean and western Atlantic Ocean waters, including those around the Florida Keys north to the St. Lucie Inlet on the east coast.
Behavior
Slow-moving, long-lived marine snail that feeds on algae and other marine plants.
Excellent eyesight.
Additional Information
The conch’s large, pink-lipped shell is valued among shell collectors, and its meat is a dietary staple for many Caribbean cultures.
May not be commercially or recreationally harvested and/or sold in Florida.
Image credit: Janessa Fletcher