Strombus Alatus: The Florida Fighting Conch
One of the most common of the live shells that you will see on our shelling tours is the Florida Fighting Conch or Strombus alatus. They are related to the Strombus pugilis or West Indian Fighting Conch which is found in the Caribbean Seas down to Brazil. These are much larger with our home version here in Florida measuring in at their largest at only 4.4 inches. This shell is fascinating and fun in that it is definitely NOT your shy retiring live animal. There are quite a few of them and can be recognized by their rather heavy shell, bright orange coloration mixed with pinks, tans, browns and an interior of purple.
You can actually see them fighting other conchs on the sands and when you pick them up they are not afraid to try and snap at you!
These warm water snails that can be found in abundance on our shores here in Southwest Florida. You can easily see them along the shoreline where they are found foraging for food. From the shore they can live as deep as 55 meters underwater, so they have quite a range. They tend to feed on plankton, algae, and detritus.
Although the flesh is edible we remind you that it is a criminal offense in our county to kill any live shells without appropriate licensing. This ensures their well-being and the well-being of our ecosystem for generations to come! When you come across an empty shell you are free to take it. The coloring make them fantastic souvenirs of your vacation in Florida as the colors are quite vibrant and rich. But please limit what you take- The breakdown of shells lends to our gorgeous sand, and the empty shells provide safe refuge for juvenile crab, hermit crab, and juvenile fishes.
Join us for a fun and fascinating outing aboard our comfortable watercraft where we take you to remote and not so remote areas for fantastic shelling!
