Having a hard time getting through your Monday? Mollusks face challenges too! Unlike many other gastropods, the Florida Fighting Conch (Strombus alatus) cannot form a suction with its foot. While other gastropods can smoothly glide over almost any obstacle, the Florida Fighting Conch is stymied and must resort to "kicking" its way back. Learn more about Southwest Florida Mollusks on our Museum Website Shell Guide https://www.shellmuseum.org/southwest-florida-shells #Mondays #Mollusks #Conch | Ba

Many gastropods use their radula to scrape up their food. This Florida Fighting Conch (Strombus alatus) is scraping the side of a container with its radula. The long appendage that looks like an elephant trunk is called the proboscis, which has the mouth at the end. The radula is inside the mouth. Despite their mighty sounding name, Florida Fighting Conchs are herbivores, meaning they use their radula to scrape up algae, not meat. Many people assume the name "Fighting Conch" was given to these a