(G.B. Sowerby 1825) - Common name Panama Horse Conch - Size range 120mm-500mm - Range: Sea of Cortez to Peru to Galapagos
 
Collected live by local panga boat hooka divers near Puerto Libertad, Mexico. 7-10 meters depth.  Tides range 3 meters / 10 feet near Puerto Libertad, so the divers usually go out during  low tides to collect murex and other species for meat.
I cleaned this shell, the snail was removed by the local Mexican fisherman, for once I am shocked, as there is little to no damage. This shell came very encrusted with build-up and calcium deposits, 2-3mm thick in most parts. While cleaning the periostracum mostly came off.  I stopped cleaning once I got close to the tip, you can still see the build-up, and had to leave this, because removing it would damage the tip.  I would not try to remove the tip build-up.
 
This is a very nice specimen, very hard to get.  Especially in this good condition.