Triplofusus giganteus
| Triplofusus giganteus | |
|---|---|
| In situ, note the orange soft parts | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Gastropoda |
| Subclass: | Caenogastropoda |
| Order: | Neogastropoda |
| Family: | Fasciolariidae |
| Genus: | Triplofusus |
| Species: | T. giganteus |
| Binomial name | |
| Triplofusus giganteus (Kiener, 1840) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Triplofusus giganteus, commonly known as the Florida horse conch, or the giant horse conch, is a species of extremely large predatory subtropical and tropical sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Fasciolariidae, the spindle snails, tulip snails and their allies. On average, it weighs over 11 pounds (5.0 kg).
Although known as a horse conch, this is not a true conch, as it is not in the family Strombidae.
With a shell length that can reach 60 centimetres (24 in), this species is the largest gastropod in United States waters, and one of the largest gastropods in the world.