Look what we found today! Gorgeous isn’t it? However, beautiful as it is, this Queen Conch (Strombus Gigas) is actually a sea snail, which is somewhat less glamorous sounding than its lovely exterior.
Queen Conch live between 20-30 years, feeding off algae and detritus and achieve their full size between just 3-5 years of age and can weigh up to as much as a hefty 5 pounds. Throughout the Caribbean, they are prized not just for their attractive shell but also for their edible meat. Throughout the islands you will frequently see conch on the menu, in the form of conch curry, conch chowder, fritters, cerviche and latterly even conch samosas, it is a well respected delicacy.
Conch shells are also used as a wind instrument and can be blown like a trumpet. In days gone by, local fisherman used them to announce to the local community that they had returned to shore and fresh fish was available for sale. To this day, you will still often hear them blown at Carnival time. It is an ancient practise and the Greek God, Triton, was said to control the ocean by using his conch shell trumpet. They are even listed by the US Coast Guard as an approved sound-making device!
Queen Conch live between 20-30 years, feeding off algae and detritus and achieve their full size between just 3-5 years of age and can weigh up to as much as a hefty 5 pounds. Throughout the Caribbean, they are prized not just for their attractive shell but also for their edible meat. Throughout the islands you will frequently see conch on the menu, in the form of conch curry, conch chowder, fritters, cerviche and latterly even conch samosas, it is a well respected delicacy.
Conch shells are also used as a wind instrument and can be blown like a trumpet. In days gone by, local fisherman used them to announce to the local community that they had returned to shore and fresh fish was available for sale. To this day, you will still often hear them blown at Carnival time. It is an ancient practise and the Greek God, Triton, was said to control the ocean by using his conch shell trumpet. They are even listed by the US Coast Guard as an approved sound-making device!
