Aliger gigas, originally known as Strombus gigas or more recently as Lobatus gigas, commonly known as the queen conch, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family of true
Researcher holding juvenile queen conch
Strombus gigas Duclos in Chenu 1844 pl 1
For a number of years during the 20th century, this very early illustration was designated as the neotype of this species: a figure of A. gigas from Recreatio mentis, et occuli (1684). The shell in the figure appears left-right reversed because of the engraving process. The original type was subsequently found, invalidating this designation.
Five different views of an adult shell of A. gigas: abapertural (upper left), lateral (center), apertural (upper right), apical (lower left) and basal (lower right). Note: The lip of this shell has been filed down or cut down artificially, a common practice in the shell trade.
Strombus pugilis, common names the fighting conch and the West Indian fighting conch, is a species of medium to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.
Apertural view of a live but retracted Strombus pugilis out of water in a human hand showing the brown operculum