Help Identifying Snail

[LavaSurfer]

Can't figure where to ask so I am asking here and feel free to move it.
I was in Roatan last week and saw this snail, it was massive. The length in this picture is at least 12" if not more.

Just curious what kind of snail (gastropod) it is.

 

[LavaSurfer]

And the Lionfish are everywhere.
Saw 4 in one dive

 

[TMHeimer]

Man, that one has me stumped, and I'm the big time shell collector. Couldn't find it in any of my books. 12"...hmm. You may want to send the picture to either Seashell Collector.com or Let's Talk Seashells. You most likely have to join these forums to post the question. They both have "Identification" forums. Maybe someone else will enlighten us first.

 

[LavaSurfer]

Man, that one has me stumped, and I'm the big time shell collector. Couldn't find it in any of my books. 12"...hmm. You may want to send the picture to either Seashell Collector.com or Let's Talk Seashells. You most likely have to join these forums to post the question. They both have "Identification" forums. Maybe someone else will enlighten us first.

Easily 12" in the lower picture from tip to tip. I dare say 18" but everything looks bigger underwater. I put my hand next to it to get some scale but the crowd was building to look at it so I backed away.

 

[redacted]

How about a True Tulip: The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Biology

Lots of color variation so goggle and take a look.

 

[TMHeimer]

Not a True Tulip. Looks like it from the photo of the spire but the syphon is not long (sticking out) and max length is 9".

 

[song]

It looks kinda like these snails we saw in Cozumel 2004. The mama snail was easily 12 inches at the mantle if not bigger. I've never been able to definitely ID it. Moon snail? Photo by buddy Josh Graham.

 

[TMHeimer]

song, From your pic. it kind of looks like a Partridge Tun, but they're like 3". Can't be a Giant Tun-they only get to 6-8" and wrong spiral shape. That 12" thing is really starting to bug me. Helmets can get that big, and of course Florida Horse Conchs (20") and Chanks (15" or so). Atl. Triton Trumpets 15". Those are the only giants I can think of in Atlantic waters. Doubt it's a member of the Moon Snail family-doesn't look right and none of them get that big to my knowledge.

 

[Guba]

Ask Thalassamania....My guess is that if he doesn't know, he'll know someone who does.

 

[LavaSurfer]

It looks kinda like these snails we saw in Cozumel 2004. The mama snail was easily 12 inches at the mantle if not bigger. I've never been able to definitely ID it. Moon snail? Photo by buddy Josh Graham.

That definately looks like the same snail. And Yes, 12" seems so dang big but it was.