Annotated Bibliography of the Conch Genus Strombus 

 (Gastropoda, Strombidae) m the Western Atlantic Ocean^ 



GEORGE H. DARCY' 



ABSTRACT 



This bibliography consists of 126 anDotated references on the anatomy, biology, behavior, distribution, 

 ecology, economic uses, fisheries and fishing methods, mariculture, physiology, predators, symbionts, systema- 

 tics, and toxicity of seven species of the conch genus Strombus in the western Atlantic Ocean. A subject index is 

 provided. 



INTRODUCTION 



This bibliography lists the pertinent references concerning 

 members of the genus Strombus in the western Atlantic Ocean. 

 Although basically a tropical genus, Strombus species occur as far 

 north as North Carolina on the Atlantic coast of the United 

 States, in the Gulf of Mexico, and as far south as Brazil. Seven 

 valid species occur in the western Atlantic and are included in this 

 bibliography: S. alatus, S. costatus, S. gallus, S. gigas, S. goliath, 

 S. pugilis, and S. raninus. Of these, S. goliath is endemic to 

 Brazil. The remaining species are more widely distributed. 



The term "conch" is usually used to refer to strombid gastro- 

 pods, although it is often applied locally to any large, usually edi- 

 ble, gastropod, and may refer to species belonging to other fami- 

 lies such as Melongenidae, Fasciolariidae, and Buccinidae. In the 

 tropical western Atlantic, conch usually refers to Strombus gigas, 

 the queen or pink conch. Strombus gigas is by far the most eco- 

 nomically important strombid in the western Atlantic, being a tra- 

 ditional staple food item in the Bahamas and in many of the 

 Caribbean islands. In addition to its local use as food, the queen 

 conch is an important item of trade; queen conch shells and shell 

 products are often sold as tourist items and the meat is exported 

 to distant markets. Because of their smaller size, the other species 



'Contribution Number 81-23M, Southeast Fisheries Center, National Marine 

 Fisheries Service, NOAA, Miami, Fla. 



'Southeast Fisheries Center. National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 75 

 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149. 



of strombids are less economically important, although some, 

 such as S. costatus, the milk or harbor conch, are locally used for 

 food to a small extent. 



In addition to their economic importance, strombids are of 

 interest ecologically, physiologically, and behaviorally. In search- 

 ing the literature, references dealing with these subjects were 

 examined and many are included in this bibliography. A few 

 references not specifically dealing with western Atlantic strom- 

 bids, but of general applicabihty to strombids, have been 

 included, particularly those on behavior. Subjects covered by 

 references included in this bibliography are listed in the subject 

 index. In general, references merely mentioning Strombus species, 

 such as faunal lists, were not included, nor were early taxonomic 

 references. 



Arrangement of references is alphabetical by author's surname. 

 Each entry is annotated to further facilitate location of a reference 

 covering a psuticular area of interest. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



I thank Julie Josiek, Librarian of the Southeast Fisheries 

 Center (SEFC) Miami Laboratory, for her help in searching and 

 retrieving literature; D. M. Allen, T. J. Costello, and A. C. 

 Jones of the Office of Fishery Management; George C. Miller, 

 Miami Laboratory; and Lynn M. Pulos, SEFC Editor, for 

 reviewing the manuscript; Ruth Turner, Harvard University, 

 and Donald R. Moore, University of Miami, who suggested sev- 

 eral references; and Carl Berg, Marine Biological Laboratory, 

 Woods Hole, Mass., who provided a copy of Alcolado's paper. 



