Florida fighting conch Strombus alatus

Family Strombidae

Strombus alatus

Gmelin, 1791

Florida fighting conch – 110 mm (4.3 inches)

Common in SW Florida

(See where and when Florida Fighting Conchs were found CLICK HERE)

different juvenile Florida fighting conch Strombus alatus

 Juvenile Florida Fighting Conchs

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juvenile Florida fighting conch Strombus alatus

Aperture view of juvenile FLORIDA FIGHTING CONCHS

Florida fighting conch eyes snout trunk

DESCRIPTION

Strombus alatus, commonly known as the Florida fighting conch, contains a small, jagged spire at the top of the shell and about seven whorls.

The front of the shell is designed with two curved edges; these edges allow the eyestalks to look out from under the shell and become aware of its surroundings, keeping the rest of its body safe. The snout acts as a trunk, reaching out from under the shell to collect food. Here you can see a fighting conch’s soft-body, eyestalks and snout emerging from its shell.

conch shells sanibel florida tide

HABITAT

These warm water shells can be found throughout the Gulf of Mexico, up to North Carolina, and across the Caribbean Sea, inhabiting sand banks and sea grass beds located in shallow water.

CLICK HERE to see posts of live Florida Fighting Conchs in their habitat

florida fighting conch egg case

LIFE CYCLE

The eggs are released in a gelatinous egg string then sand adheres to its thick jelly-like sheath.

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florida fighting conch colors

COLOR FORMS

Multiple colors and patterns varying from white, tan, orange, brown, black and purple. Albinos are uncommon.

Florida fighting conch Strombus alatus knobless form

OTHER FORM VARIATIONS

Knobless Florida Fighting Conchs- The shoulders on these shells are smooth and missing the knobs (nodules). Theses are uncommon to find in SW Florida.

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freak fighting conch

Freak Florida Fighting Conchs – either cause by lack of food source, environmental issues or repairing from injury.

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freak fighting conch apex
freak fighting conch on blue

Video of FLORIDA FIGHTING CONCHS…