The three-eyed Lobatus gigas

摘要

I am a professor of marine botany and I took my class on a field trip last March to Las Cabezas de San Juan, Fajardo,Puerto Rico. The purpose was to collect and study some marine algae and to give the students the opportunity to participate in fieldwork. We spent some time snorkeling,as I usually search for other things to show the students. In all honesty I enjoy the “oooh” and "wow" when I show them something different. On this occasion I collected a young Lobatus gigas or queen conch (in Puerto Rico it is commonly called "carrucho"). When the animal extended its head, it was evident it had three eyes. I do not have to mention who said “woooow” this time. I took a couple of photographs of this interesting creature and then released it (local law forbids the killings of these animals).