Though I often find these vivid rufous, orange shells on the beach, this was my first time finding one that was still inhabited. Despite their bellicose name, the Florida Fighting Conch (Strombus alatus) is a peaceable herbivore that poses no threat to humans. They are territorial however, with the males known to forcibly defend their personal space (hence their common name).

See those distinctive indentations (stromboid notches) near the lower, open end of the shell? Those are for the sea-snail’s eyestalks, which they periscope up so they can safely see around them (pretty cool feature).

Since I found this one in the sand near the high tide line, I picked it up and carried it back down into the water. Hopefully, we stayed within its territory, I wouldn’t want to have been the cause of an altercation!