Triplofusus giganteus

Triplofusus giganteus
In situ, note the orange soft parts
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Family: Fasciolariidae
Genus: Triplofusus
Species:
T. giganteus
Binomial name
Triplofusus giganteus
(Kiener, 1840)
Synonyms[1]
  • Fasciolaria gigantea Kiener, 1840
  • Fasciolaria papillosa f. elongata Strebel, 1911
  • Fasciolaria papillosa f. reevei Jonas, 1850
  • Fasciolaria papillosa juvenis Strebel, 1911
  • Fasciolaria reevei Jonas, 1850
  • Pleuroploca gigantea Kiener, 1840
  • Triplofusus papillosus auct.

Triplofusus giganteus, commonly known as the Florida horse conch, or the giant horse conch, is a species of extremely large predatory subtropical and tropical sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, tulip snails and their allies.[1] On average, it weighs over 11 pounds (5.0 kg).[2]

Although known as a horse conch, this is not a true conch, as it is not in the family Strombidae.

With a shell length that can reach 60 centimetres (24 in), this species is the largest gastropod in United States waters,[3] and one of the largest gastropods in the world.

  1. ^ a b Rosenberg, G. (2018). Triplofusus giganteus (Kiener, 1840). In: MolluscaBase (2018). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=420051 on 2021-07-02
  2. ^ "Hermit Crab vs. Conch | World's Deadliest". Nat Geo Wild. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  3. ^ Leal, J.H. (2002). Gastropods. p. 99-147. In: Carpenter, K.E. (ed.). The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volume 1: Introduction, molluscs, crustaceans, hagfishes, sharks, batoid fishes, and chimaeras. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes and American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publication No. 5. 1600p. PDF