According to "The Queen Conch" by Orr and Berg, Strombus gigas reaches
sexual maturity at about three and a half years of age. The life span of the
species is estimated to be six or seven years.  Of course, habitat and
water temperature certainly have an influence on the life span, and, those
in colder waters probably live longer.  The age of the species is best
determined by the development of the lip.

Bill Frank
1865 Debutante Dr.
Jacksonville, FL 32246-8645
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Ashley Mace Havird" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2000 11:27 AM
Subject: Queen Conch


>     A question from someone who knows nothing about shells.  Can anyone
tell
> me how long it takes a Queen Conch to reach maturity?  I found one as big
as
> my head at Cayman Brac this summer--is that mature?  Anyway, I'm a writer,
> and I want to make this the subject of a new poem.  Oh, is it true you can
> look at the striations on a shell and count its years?  Like the trunk of
a
> tree?  I know this is all very elementary.  Thanks for responding.  Ashley
> Havird