Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | CoL | ITIS | WoRMS

Gastropoda | Littorinimorpha | Strombidae

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Benthic; depth range 2 - 73 m (Ref. 83934), usually ? - 30 m (Ref. 97646). Tropical; 33°N - 2°S, 97°W - 45°W

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Western Atlantic: South Carolina to Brazil.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ?, range 2 - ? cm Max length : 30.0 cm SHL male/unsexed; (Ref. 105315); max. published weight: 3.3 kg (Ref. 105296); max. reported age: 30 years (Ref. 126618)

Short description Morphology

Shell large, with relatively large spire, flared outer lip with posterior expansion projecting well beyond spire length. Spire taller than other species in genus. Sculpture of sharp knobs along shoulder. Colour: pale tan with thin brown periostracum. Internal shell colour deep pink.

The fisheries have grown exponentially in the last 30 years, with resulting declines in population and area closures. The species has been included on appendix 2 of CITES (Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species). International trade is allowed only from nations in which the populations of the species are not under threat from commercial fishing (Ref. 355). Maximum weight from Ref. 97674 cited in Ref. 105296. This species is found intertidal and offshore, on coral reefs, particularly on algae, coral sand, and seagrass habitats (Refs. 355, 83934). Adults prefer sandy algal flats; also found on gravel, coral rubble, smooth hard coral and beach rock bottoms. Rarely on soft bottoms of mud and/or silt. Benthic grazer. Feeds on diatoms, seagrass detritus, and various algae and epiphytes. Nocturnal (Refs. 105087, 127891) (Ref. 355).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Copulation may precede spawning. Spawning occurs on a type of calcareous sand formed from the fragmentation of coral reefs, including large quantities of calcareous skeletal remains from small molluscs and calcareous algae. Females deposit the egg mass on the substrate (Ref. 105320). Life cycle: Eggs hatch into veligers after 3-5 days which feed on phytoplankton; after 21 days they undergo metamorphosis (juvenile stage) where they remain buried in the sand and emerge in seagrass beds to feed; adults return to the shallow inshore waters to spawn.

Main reference References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Leal, J.H. 2003. (Ref. 355)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

Not Evaluated

CITES status (Ref. 108899)

Appendix II: International trade monitored

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Human uses

Fisheries: highly commercial
| FIRMS (Stock assessments) | FishSource | Sea Around Us

Tools

E-book | Field guide

More information

Countries
FAO areas
Ecosystems
Occurrences
Introductions
Stocks
Ecology
Diet
Food items

Common names
Synonyms
Predators
Reproduction
Maturity
Spawning
Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development

Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Morphology
Larvae
Abundance

References
Mass conversion

Collaborators
Pictures

Internet sources

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 25.3 - 28, mean 27 (based on 146 cells).

Resilience (Ref. 69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.25-0.71; tm=3-4; tmax=30).

Prior r = 0.97, 95% CL = 0.64 - 1.45, Based on 4 data-limited stock assessments.

Price category (Ref. 80766): Medium.

Nutrients: Calcium = 126 [75, 177] mg/100g; Iron = 4.79 [1.67, 7.92] mg/100g; Protein = 15.9 [14.8, 16.9] %; Omega3 = 0.331 [0.263, 0.400] g/100g; Selenium = 57.8 [48.5, 67.2] μg/100g; VitaminA = 0 μg/100g; Zinc = 1.97 [0.92, 3.02] mg/100g (wet weight).

Aliger gigas (Linnaeus, 1758)