Written by Kyle Foster
The day of love is upon us, and here on land is not the only place where things begin to heat up. As the months become warmer in the shallow waters of Barbados, romantic escapades also flare under the sea.
The Queen conch, a large, marine snail with a pinked-lipped shell, gives a whole new meaning to “Taking the plunge” as it uses a claw-like structure to jump across the seafloor in search of love.
Full of charm, this species best captures the phrase “making googly eyes”, and who wouldn’t be seduced by these??
Photo 1 credit: ambergriscaye, Photo 2 credit: jlyle
Also, if you’re looking for a slow-burn romance, look no further! These guys move at 0.03 miles per hour, so this love train is going nowhere fast.
The Birds and the Bees? More like Snails in Heat Under the Sea!
Once a pair is made, things escalate as the male positions himself next to the female, so that their shells are touching.
The male then extends his arm to the female passing sperm to fertilize the eggs, and just like their movement, this process is also slow, lasting many hours!
After several weeks, thousands of eggs are hatched and carried away by the tides. Free-swimming baby conchs will hatch and float around for a while before settling in the sand, forming the next generation of queen conch.
These charismatic animals remain a part of Barbados’ culture, loved both for their meat and shells which take on many uses from horns to decorations and tools.
Conch has also been a muse for artistic pursuits, frequently featured in local art and in the popular song ‘Conch’ by Lil Rick a well established Bajan Soca Artist.
Let’s spread the love and ensure that these iconic sea creatures are around for generations to come.