Carrucho | West Indian Fighting Conch
Common Name: Carrucho or West Indian Fighting Conch
Scientific Name: Strombus pugilis
Description: Carrucho has a large, heavy shell with a conical shape. The shell is typically brown or tan in color with dark brown markings and ridges. It has a thick outer lip and a pointed spire. The body of the snail is usually light brown or pinkish in color.
Distribution: Carrucho is native to the Caribbean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean, including the coasts of Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean islands.
Culinary Use: Carrucho meat is consumed in various Caribbean cuisines. It is often used in soups, stews, fritters, and other seafood dishes. The meat has a firm and chewy texture with a slightly sweet and savory taste.
Medicinal Use: is a good low-fat source of protein. It is high in vitamins E and B12, magnesium, selenium, and folate, but is also high in cholesterol.
Fun Fact: Carrucho is known for its ability to "fight" or resist being captured. When disturbed, it can extend a hard, calcified operculum (a cover for the shell opening) to protect itself. This behavior has earned it the nickname "fighting conch." In some Caribbean cultures, carrucho shells are also used as musical instruments, similar to the use of conch shells.