Giant Horse Conch getting some breakfast...

The Giant Horse Conch is one of the largest living gastropod mollusks in the world. Adults can reach sizes over 2 feet (60 cm) in shell length. Their large size and thick shells provide good protection from predators.

These snails are carnivorous, feeding mainly on bivalves like clams and oysters, which they pry open with their foot and radula (toothed tongue). They use acids and enzymes to bore holes through the shells of their prey.

Giant Horse Conchs can live for over 20 years. They are slow-moving and tend to stay within a home range area of less than half a square mile as adults.

The Giant Horse Conch plays an important ecological role in its habitat. As a top predator, it helps regulate bivalve populations. Its large and heavy shell also provides a home or shelter for other small animals after the snail dies.

This species mates via internal fertilization. The females lay gelatinous egg masses which can contain over 1 million eggs. After hatching, the larvae float and feed in the plankton for several weeks before settling on the sea floor to continue development.

Giant Horse Conchs are popular among seashell collectors due to their large size and ornate shells. Over-harvesting for the shell trade has contributed to their depletion in some areas. They are now regulated in Florida with harvest limits and minimum size restrictions to help conserve the population.