Queen Conch
Aliger gigas
Markings and exact colorations may vary.
The pink-lipped Caribbean icon. Live queen conch are fully protected in Florida, so beachcombers look for old, sun-bleached shells and fragments.
- Typical size
- 6–12 in
- How often it turns up
- Rare as a beach find in Florida
- Collecting
- Protected, do not collect
- Handling
- Safe to handle
Queen conch are protected in Florida state waters. Do not take live animals, and check current FWC rules before keeping any queen conch shell.
How to tell it apart
- Flaring lip with glossy pink interior in adults
- Heavy triangular shell with blunt spines
- Juveniles ('rollers') lack the flared lip
Where to find these in Florida
Beaches rated very good or excellent for shells. Each page shows today’s score, the best window and access details.
- Anclote Key Preserve State Park · Tarpon Springs
- Bean Point · Anna Maria
- Beer Can Island (Greer Island) · Longboat Key
- Boca Grande Public Beach · Boca Grande
- Bowman's Beach · Sanibel
- Captiva Beach · Captiva
- Cayo Costa State Park · Cayo Costa
- Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park · Naples
- Don Pedro Island State Park · Cape Haze
- Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park · St. George Island
- Gasparilla Island State Park · Boca Grande
- Gulfside City Park (Algiers Beach) · Sanibel
Found one?
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More shells in the field guide
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