Fascinating Shells by Andreia Salvador

Author:Andreia Salvador
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Published: 2022-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Scorpio conch

Lambis scorpius

Spider conchs are marine snails with a geographical distribution limited to the warmest parts of the Indo-Pacific. The shells are characterized by the long, thick and curved projections along the lip of the shell. These features are only present in the adult shell, so young shells resemble very different gastropods. The animals are active grazers and their preferred habitat is the shallow waters around coral reefs. The male shells differ from females in size, sculpture and spines. In some species the male may be as much as forty-five per cent smaller than the female. This difference of appearance between male and female of the same species is called sexual dimorphism. The scorpio conch is one of the longer-spined species, with a bright, purple-coloured aperture that also displays a series of white stripes.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific

Size

70 mm (2-3/4 in)

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