(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.
Triplofusus Princeps - TP0511201904
NUMBER:
TP0511201901
CLASS:
GASTROPODA CAENOGASTROPODA
ORDER:
NEOGASTROPODA
SUPER FAMILY:
BUCCINOIDEA
FAMILY:
FASCIOLARIIDAE FASCIOLARIINAE
SIZE:
295mm / 11 5/8"
WEIGHT:
445g / 15.7 oz
CONDITION:
F+-F++ / Cleaned...some very small chips along the outer mouth lip.
FRESH FIND
BETWEEN 10/2018 - 03/2019
LOCATION:
PUERTO LIBERTAD, MEXICO GOOGLE EARTH COORDINATES: 29 54' 58" N / 112 40' 55" W