Strombus

Florida Queen Conch (Strombus alatus )

The fencer snails ( Strombus ) are a genus of pteropods ( Strombidae ).

Dissemination

The majority of the approximately fifty species lives in the Indo-Pacific region, while five species ( S. gigas, S. gallus, S. costatus, S. pugilis, p raninus ) have their home in the Caribbean Sea.

Her greatest representative who lives in the Caribbean Large queen conch (Strombus gigas ), which grows up to 21 cm in length and 2.5 kg in weight. The males are usually slightly smaller than the females.

Development

Products resulting from veliger larvae fencer snails change in later life strongly their shape, which is why they were formerly held by the Caribbean residents and even by zoologists for different species.

Young fencers screws have a rounded shell without "wings" and are therefore called " Roller" or " round worm ". Only the adult animal forms from the characteristic edge of the case ( "wings" ), in the conch at the age of three years. These adult animals are called " Strong worm " or "leaf worm ". Small fencer screws in which distinct wings already appear, called " Samba worm " or " Sangaschnecken ".

The housing edge of the conch and the first very sharp spines on the body wear out with time. The animals are camouflaged by vegetation with plants and sessile animals.

Locomotion, " fencing "

The fencer snails use their fingernail -like operculum ( shell closure lid ) for locomotion: For this, the worm infected the operculum to the ground and moves her body by jerky contraction of the foot to the front, with a " step " about half a body length. The movement here is similar to the lunge in fencing. Here, the worm does not leave any slime or odor trail and is better protected from predators.

Nutrition

Fechter snails live from algae on seagrass and sand or mud substrate.

Use

The housing of the fencers snails serve in various cultures of the production of screws trumpets, as formerly in the Chimú and Inca in South America ( Quechua name: Pututu ). Fechter snails are popular in the raw and cooked state as a delicacy. The housings are sold as souvenirs to tourists.

Currently, further passes through a patent application for the production of marine pearls with the conch. Here them a foreign body is implanted, which, similar to oysters, is coated with nacre and so after 6 months to 2 years, forms a pearl.

Endangering

The Great Queen Conch ( giant conch, Strombus gigas) is severely compromised by excessive collecting.