A 1/4 pound of 2 1/2 to 3" Strombus pugilis shells

A quarter pound of Strombus pugilis (the Fighting Conch) shells measuring 2.5 to 3 inches

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This is a species of medium to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.

The strombus pugilis grow up to 5 inches with the average size 3 1/2 inches.

Strombus pugilis has a robust, heavy solid shell, with a characteristic stromboid notch. It has a well-developed body whorl and a short and pointed spire. It grows 8 to 9 whorls, each of them having a single row of subsutural spines, becoming larger towards the last whorl. These spines may be less conspicuous or even absent in some populations. Its aperture is relatively long and slightly oblique. The posterior angle of the outer lip is distinct, projecting in the posterior direction in an erect fashion. The operculum is sickle-shaped, similar to several other Strombus snails.

The shell color varies from salmon-pink, cream or yellow to light or strong orange, and the interior of the aperture is usually white. The anterior end presents a dark purple stain, which is one of the diagnostic characters of this species, and is absent in Strombus alatus.

This species is closely similar to Strombus alatus, which has a more northerly range. Strombus alatus shells have less prominent subsutural spines and a slightly more projected outer lip. Some scientists have treated the two as distinct species; others as subspecies. In an extensive study of the Stromboidea in 2005, Simone provisionally treated them as distinct species, but observed that "no spectacular morphological difference was found [and] all related differences, even those of the genital system, can be regarded as extreme of variation of a single, wide distributed, variable species.

Strombus pugilis dwell from Bermuda, off southeastern Florida, the Caribbean Sea, and south to Brazil.

The Strombus pugilis can be found on sandy and muddy bottoms, from the intertidal zone to depths of a little over 180 feet.

During a long period in the initial stages of its development, the Strombus pugilis larvae feed mainly on plankton. Studies indicate that some populations of Strombus pugilis reproduce throughout the year. Reproduction orgies have been observed, on silty sand from depths between 26 to near 33 feet.

Strombus pugilis are herbivores, feeding on plants and algae.

The flesh of Strombus pugilis is edible. It is usually cooked by boiling, and is consumed by local fishermen. The shell is commonly used as a decorative item and is sold in local markets as a souvenir.

Scientific classification

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Gastropoda

Subclass: Caenogastropoda

Order: Littorinimorpha

Family: Strombidae

Genus: Strombus

Species: S. pugilis

Binomial name: Strombus pugilis

Linnaeus, 1758

(REF: Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence".)(REF: Leal, J.H. (2002). Gastropods. p. 99-147. In: Carpenter, K.E. (ed.). The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volume 1: Introduction, molluscs, crustaceans, hagfishes, sharks, batoid fishes, and chimaeras.)(REF: Simone (2005): Comparative Morphological study of representatives of the three families of Stromboidea and the Xenophoroidea (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda), with an assessment of their phylogeny)(REF:Robertson, R. (1961). The feeding of Strombus and related herbivorous marine gastropods. )