Florida Horse Conch

Triplofusus giganteus

The Florida horse conch (Triplofusus giganteus) is one of the largest gastropods in the world, with a spindle-shaped shell reaching up to 60 cm in length. The shell is orange-brown with a bright orange aperture, and the animal itself has a vivid orange-red body. Found in the western Atlantic from North Carolina to Mexico and the Caribbean, it inhabits sandy and grassy areas, oyster reefs, and rocky substrates at depths of 0 to 20 meters. This predatory snail feeds on other large gastropods and bivalves, enveloping them with its muscular foot and forcing open their shells. It can live for decades and grows slowly throughout its life. Encountering a large horse conch plowing through sand on a Florida dive is an impressive sight, as the vivid orange body contrasts dramatically with the sandy substrate.