Strombus gigas shell (lobatus gigas, lambi, or queen conch)

Shell of "lobatus gigas", queen conch (the giant conch or lambi). A species of marine mollusc found in the equatorial and tropical zone of the western atlantic, particularly in the antilles and florida. Can reach 30 cm and 1.5 kg. Its shell and the pearls it can produce are used for decoration and making objects such as jewelry, in particular the very rare pink pearl (one pink pearl for about a thousand lambis). The pre-columbian andean populations already consumed it at the time, and used it as a call horn ("pututo"). Shells are frequently found near shards of terracotta by archaeologists, including in martinique. Lobatus gigas is a delicacy in the antilles, as prized and luxurious as lobster. In the french antilles, its gastronomic name is "lambi". (naturalia: animalia.) height: 13cm. Width: 21cm. Depth: 17cm. Weight: 1.2kg. A souvenir from another era, this object may show some signs of wear and tear.