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Large and in Charge – Horse Conch Week

The Florida Horse Conch’s Latin name is Triplofusus giganteus for a good reason – these snails are gigantic! They can grow up to 2 feet long, making them the largest snail in the Gulf of Mexico and the second-largest snail in the world! This brown and white shell has whimsical whorls and knobs that spiral around its shoulders. But don’t let their beauty fool you; these orange-footed gastropods are voracious predators, capturing and mercilessly smothering prey like Lightning Whelks and Tulip snails. This week we’ll play predator-prey games, snorkel Sanibel in search of Horse Conchs gliding along the sand, and take a closer look at their egg casings under a microscope. We’ll compare juvenile shells to adults and learn about the gastropod lifecycle. Will we be lucky enough to find an empty shell to take home? Join us to find out!