Invertebrate
Invertebrate
Queen Conch
Lobatus gigas
The Queen Conch is a large marine snail prized for its meat and its glossy pink-lipped shell, historically overfished across the Caribbean to the point of regional population collapse, and now managed through harvest controls and international trade regulation in Tobago's waters.
The Queen Conch is a large marine snail prized for its meat and its glossy pink-lipped shell, historically overfished across the Caribbean to the point of regional population collapse, and now managed through harvest controls and international trade regulation in Tobago's waters.
Identification
A large marine gastropod with a heavy, spiral shell up to 30 cm long, flaring into a distinctive glossy pink to orange lip in mature adults, a feature that develops only once the animal reaches full maturity, making shell-lip thickness a key indicator used by fisheries managers to distinguish legally harvestable adults from immature conch.
Ecology
Grazes on algae and seagrass detritus on sandy and seagrass bottoms, playing a role in nutrient cycling and grazing pressure on these habitats. It grows slowly and matures late, typically not reaching reproductive maturity for several years, which makes populations inherently slow to recover once overfished, a key reason for its Caribbean-wide conservation concern.
In Trinidad and Tobago
Found on seagrass and sandy bottoms around Tobago, historically an important fishery and food source, now subject to harvest regulation reflecting both regional overfishing concerns and CITES Appendix II international trade controls, which require permits for export of shells and meat.
Threats
- Overharvesting for meat and shell
- Seagrass habitat loss
- Slow growth and late maturity limiting recovery
