QUEEN CONCH

Lobatus gigas

The Queen Conches are a large species of snail found throughout the Caribbean Sea, characterized by their beautiful shells. Their shells are a pale brown with a vibrant pink lip with thick spiny projections, whereas their soft tissue is orange in color. Their shell accounts for most of their mass, allowing them to reach a mass of ~5 lbs (2.3 kg) and a length of 18 cm. Along with Caribbean Spiny Lobsters, Queen Conches are an immensely popular seafood item among local Bahamians and international trade, and are thus important for the livelihood and economy of Bimini.

Photo by David Palfrey