Habitat

A Queen conch in its natural habitat.

Most often, S. gigas is found clean waters with areas of sandy or fine rubble substrate, which foster sea grass and algal growth, easy burrowing grounds for juveniles, and prime camouflage for egg sacs post deposition (2). Conchs are also found less frequently on rocky bottoms or coral reefs. The animal prefers to reside within seagrass beds composed primarily of either turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) or manatee grass (Cymodocea manatorum), which serve as their primary food source along with the algae that grows on and around them (1). During spawning seasons, the conchs migrate inshore to shallower and calmer waters, the bottoms of which are generally composed entirely of fine sand (1).

Because their spawning habitat is the sandy bottom along coastlines, conch egg masses and reproducing adults are particularly susceptible to disturbance by human activities; such as the activities of beach-goers and the development of these coastlines for resorts and other tourist attractions.