The current record for Strombus gigas is 352.4mm.  If my conversion is
right, that is less than 14".  While snorkeling in the Keys, I cam across
the largest one I've ever seen.  It was too heavy for me to turn over to see
the animal, no matter how hard I tried.  No one else in my group was nearby
as luck would have it.  I knew no one would believe my estimate of how large
it was.  I had a shell dip net with me.  I put the wire that hold the net
against the shell and measured it against that.  It was 1-1/2 times the
width of the wire.  I measured the net when I got back, and it was 12"
across.  That would make it in the vicinity of 18".  I still don't think
anyone believes me.  Chalk it up to a "fish tale", if you like.

It was in amazingly good condition on the backside as far as I could tell -
better that what you would expect from one that had been around that long.

Sylvia S. Edwards
Huntsville, Alabama
[log in to unmask]

> >>Does anyone know:
> >>
> >>1) how long Strombus gigas lives and/or reaches adult size?
> >>2) how long Conus textile lives?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>*****************************************
> >> G Thomas Watters
> >> Ohio Biological Survey &
> >> Aquatic Ecology Laboratory
> >> Ohio State University
> >> 1315 Kinnear Road
> >> Columbus, OH 43212 USA
> >> v: 614-292-6170  f: 614-292-0181
> >>******************************************
> >>
> >>"The world is my oyster except for months with an 'R' in them" -
Firesign
> >>Theater
> >>
> >>"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and
he
> >>has to buy a license" - GTW
> >>
> >
>