Laevistrombus canarium (Linnaeus, 1758)
Laevistrombus canarium, also known as the dog conch or by its more popular synonym, Strombus canarium, is a type of sea snail that is edible. A true conch is a marine gastropod mollusk belonging to the family Strombidae.
Current Status of Name :
This name is currently accepted taxonomically.
Rank : Species
Environment : Marine
Taxonomy Classification
- Kingdom : Animalia
- Phylum : Mollusca
- Class : Gastropoda
- Order : Littorinimorpha
- Family : Strombidae
- Genus : Laevistrombus
- Species : Laevistrombus canarium
Laevistrombus canarium
Description :
Shell Morphology:
- Large and heavy shell, typically 15-25 cm in length
- Shell shape is elongated and fusiform (spindle-shaped)
- Spire is high and conical, with rounded whorls
- Aperture is elongated and narrow, with a short siphonal canal
- Outer lip is thick and flared, often with a rounded outer edge
- Shell surface is smooth, with fine growth lines
- Color is pale gray, cream or pinkish, sometimes with darker spiral bands
Soft Body Anatomy:
- Large muscular foot used for locomotion
- Long proboscis containing the radula (rasping tongue-like organ)
- Pair of cephalic tentacles with eyes at their base
- Long siphon used for respiration
Habitat and Ecology:
- Found in shallow coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region
- Inhabits sandy or seagrass areas in bays, lagoons and reef flats
- Herbivorous, grazing on algae and seagrasses
- Relatively slow-moving and sedentary as adults
Life Cycle:
- Males release sperm into the water for females to take in and fertilize eggs internally
- Females attach leathery egg cases to hard substrates
- Free-swimming veliger larvae develop before settling and metamorphosing into juveniles
Distribution:
- Native range spans the Indo-Pacific region
- From East Africa and Red Sea to Japan, Southeast Asia, northern Australia, and western Pacific islands
Significance:
- One of the largest species in the Strombidae family
- Shells are collected for their size, color variations, and as souvenirs
- Locally consumed as food in some areas within its range
- Plays a role as an herbivore in seagrass and algal communities
The Canarium or Dog Conch is a striking and large sea snail found throughout warm Indo-Pacific waters. Its sizeable smooth shell and herbivorous feeding habits make it an ecologically important species in many coastal marine ecosystems of this region. Copy