This is the Tulip Snail (Fasciolaria tulipa), a large and striking marine snail recognised for its elongated, spindle-shaped shell with spiral ridges and brown to reddish markings. The aperture is wide and flared, sometimes showing orange tones, which gives the shell its distinctive appearance. Tulip Snails are active predators, feeding mainly on bivalves and other molluscs.

 

Location:
Warm waters of the Western Atlantic, including the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, and the Caribbean, usually found in sandy or muddy substrates near seagrass beds.

Average Size:
Up to 24 cm in length.

Family:
Fasciolariidae (Tulip Snails)

Species:
Fasciolaria tulipa

Ecological Role:
As a carnivorous gastropod, the Tulip Snail helps regulate populations of bivalves and other invertebrates, contributing to ecological balance in its coastal habitats.

Reproduction:
Lays egg capsules attached to hard surfaces; the young hatch as free-swimming larvae before developing into juvenile snails.

Conservation Status:
Not considered threatened, though populations may be locally impacted by habitat disturbance and collection for the shell trade.