Strombus pugilis

Shell description

The maximum recorded shell length is 110 mm or up to 130 mm, commonly to 90 mm.

Like other species in the same genus, Strombus pugilis has a robust, somewhat heavy and solid shell, with a characteristic stromboid notch. It has a well-developed body whorl and a short and pointed spire. It presents 8 to 9 whorls, each of them having a single row of subsutural spines, becoming larger towards the last whorl. These spines, however, may be less conspicuous or even absent in some populations. Its aperture is relatively long and slightly oblique. The posterior angle of the outer lip is distinct, projecting in the posterior direction in an erect fashion. The operculum is sickle-shaped, similar to several other Strombus snails.

The shell color varies from salmon-pink, cream or yellow to light or strong orange, and the interior of the aperture is usually white. The anterior end presents a dark purple stain, which is one of the diagnostic characters of this species, and is absent in Strombus alatus.

This species is closely similar to Strombus alatus, which has a more northerly range. Strombus alatus shells have less prominent subsutural spines and a slightly more projected outer lip. Some scientists have treated the two as distinct species; others as subspecies. In an extensive study of the Stromboidea in 2005, Simone provisionally treated them as distinct species, but observed that "no spectacular morphological difference was found [and] all related differences, even those of the genital system, can be regarded as extreme of variation of a single, wide distributed, variable species."

Distribution

Strombus pugilis lives in Bermuda, southeastern Florida, the Caribbean Sea (as far east as Barbados) and south to Brazil.

Phylogeny

A cladogram based on sequences of nuclear histone H3 gene and mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase I gene showing phylogenetic relationships of (32 analyzed) species in the genus Strombus and Lambis, including Strombus pugilis, was proposed by Latiolais et al (2006). In this hypothesis, Strombus pugilis and Strombus alatus apparently share a common ancestor, and are possibly close related.

Ecology

Habitat

This sea snail lives on sandy and muddy bottoms, from the intertidal zone to depths between 2 and 10 m. The minimum recorded depth for this species is 0 m; the maximum recorded depth is 55 m.

Life cycle

During a long period in the initial stages of its development, the Strombus pugilis larvae feed mainly on plankton. Studies indicate that some populations of Strombus pugilis may reproduce throughout the year.

Reproduction orgies have been observed, on silty sand at 8–10 m. depth, with egg cases littering the bottom, and obvious copulation in progress across a fairly large area.

Feeding habits

Strombus pugilis is known to be a herbivore, feeding on plants and algae.

Human uses

The flesh of Strombus pugilis is edible. It is usually cooked by boiling, and is consumed by local fishermen. S. pugilis is used as a zootherapeutical product for the treatment of sexual impotence in the traditional Brazilian medicine of the Northeast region of Brazil. The shell is commonly used as a decorative item and is sold in local markets as a souvenir.

Imposex

The phenomenon known as imposex, the development of nonfunctional male sexual organs in female individuals, has been observed in S. pugilis. This condition is triggered by exposure to organic tin compounds such as tributyltin and triphenyltin, is irreversible, and can have severe consequences for the species, ranging from individual sterilization to potential population collapse. Organotin compounds were commonly used as biocides and antifouling agents, added to marine paints to prevent organisms from growing on the hulls of boats and ships. As a result, high concentrations often accumulated in the waters around shipyards and docking areas, posing a serious threat to nearby marine life through prolonged exposure.

References

• Rosenberg, G., F. Moretzsohn, and E. F. García. 2009. Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, pp. 579–699 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas.

References

1. Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". ''[[PLoS ONE]]'' '''5'''(1): e8776. {{doi. 10.1371/journal.pone.0008776
2. Leal, J.H. (2002). Gastropods. p. 99-147. In: Carpenter, K.E. (ed.). [ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/y4160e/y4160e08.pdf The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volume 1: Introduction, molluscs, crustaceans, hagfishes, sharks, batoid fishes, and chimaeras.]{{dead link. (May 2025)
3. Cervigón, F. ''et al''. (1993): ''FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Field guide to the commercial marine and brackish-water resources of the northern coast of South America''. Rome, FAO. 513 p.
4. Rios, E. C.. (1994). "Seashells of Brazil". FURG.
5. [http://www.revistasusp.sibi.usp.br/pdf/azmz/v37n2/a01v37n2.pdf Simone (2005): Comparative Morphological study of representatives of the three families of Stromboidea and the Xenophoroidea (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda), with an assessment of their phylogeny] {{Webarchive. link. (5 March 2012 , p. 142.)
6. [http://www.revistasusp.sibi.usp.br/pdf/azmz/v37n2/a01v37n2.pdf Simone (2005): Comparative Morphological study of representatives of the three families of Stromboidea and the Xenophoroidea (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda), with an assessment of their phylogeny] {{Webarchive. link. (5 March 2012 , p. 169.)
7. Latiolais J. M., Taylor M. S., Roy K. & Hellberg M. E. (2006). "A molecular phylogenetic analysis of strombid gastropod morphological diversity". ''[[Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution]]'' '''41''': 436-444. {{doi. 10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.027. [http://biology.ucsd.edu/labs/roy/PDFs/Latiolais%20et%20al.%202006%20Mol.%20Phyl.%20&%20Evol.pdf PDF].
8. Simone, L. R. L.. (2005). "Comparative morphological study of representatives of the three families of Stromboidea and the Xenophoroidea (Mollusca, Caenogastropoda), with an assessment of their phylogeny". Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo.
9. Cardenas, E.B., D. Aldana Aranda, and G. Martínez Olivares. (2005). ''Gonad development and reproductive pattern of the fighting conch Strombus pugilis (Lineé, 1758) (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia) from Campeche, Mexico''. Journal of Shellfish Research 24(4):1127-1133.
10. Robertson, R. (1961). ''The feeding of Strombus and related herbivorous marine gastropods''. Natul. Nat. 343: 1-9
11. Alves R. R. N. 2009. ''Fauna used in popular medicine in Northeast Brazil''. [[Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine]] 2009, 5:1. {{doi. 10.1186/1746-4269-5-1
12. (2024). "Imposex incidence in gastropod species from the Colombian Caribbean Coast reveals continued and widespread tributyltin contamination after its global ban". Environmental Pollution.
13. (2025). "Revisiting the imposex queen conch ''Aliger gigas'' near Port Everglades, Florida: demographics, histopathology, and sediment contamination". Endangered Species Research.
14. (2025). "First record of imposex in the horse conch, ''Triplofusus giganteus'' (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Fasciolariidae)". Bulletin of Marine Science.
15. (1998). "Tributyltin and imposex: no uncertainty shown". Marine Ecology Progress Series.
16. Horiguchi, T.. (1995). "Imposex in Japanese gastropods (Neogastropoda and Mesogastropoda): effects of tributyltin and triphenyltin from anti-fouling paints". Oxford.
17. Castro, Í. B.. (2008). "Imposex in endemic volutid from Northeast Brazil (Mollusca: Gastropoda)". Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology.