Gary J Sibio
Spider Conch (2011-06-19 10-44-20a)
Spider Conch (2011-06-19 10-44-45a)
Taxonomy
Phylum Mollusca / Class Gastropoda / Superfamily Stromboidea / Family Strombidae / Lambis lambis
Description
The heavy, robust shell averages around 18 cm in length but can reach a maximum length of 29 cm. It has a flared outer lip with six hollow ornamental projections (called marginal digitations) to the side. These digitations are slightly different in shape for male and female. The first three are short and bent toward the rear in males, longer and curved dorsally in females. Shell color is variable. The outside is white or cream with brown, purplish or bluish black patches while the inside is glazed and can be pink, orange or purple.
Distribution
The Spider Conch is found throughout the Indo-West Pacific, including Aldabra, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, Seychelles, Tanzania, Micronesia, eastern Melanesia, Taiwan, southern Japan and northern Australia. It is found in mangrove areas, reef flats and coral-rubble bottoms in shallow water (low tide levels to 5m).
Ecology
It is a vegetation usually feeding on red algae.
nice!!
Thank you
That’s good I would advise you to do so Gary ?
I collect shells.
I did for a while but I ended up giving them away. I wish I had photographed them first. I bought some more at a shop that I want to photograph when I get a chance.
I love this kind of sea-shell
I like the finger-like projections.
Fascinating – I love shells and the sea :).
Me too. I have a basketful of shells to photograph when Iget a chance.
Please do do that! (and post them all here, please)
Thanks
Great post!
Thank you
Very cool Gary love the photos and the trivia.
Thanks, Carol
Beautiful, I always repair in a shop of these mollusks in the city of Vigo, I find very striking.
Thanks, Oscar
Beauty
Thanks, Olga