The Strawberry conch (Strombus luhuanus) is a popular food source found on the Island of Okinawa. Locals know as uchinanchu (sea people) search for this marine snail during extreme low tides. The sweet tasting meat of the conch shell is sought after during the summer months.

The beautiful people of Okinawa © Shawn Miller

After harvesting and consuming the conch meat, the shells are giving back to the ocean in large piles. This will provide shelter for marine-based hermit crabs and eventually stabilize the sediment.

Thousands of conch shells © Shawn Miller

Marine hermit crab

Land hermit crabs are often found next to these onshore shell piles, scavenging on conch meat remains.

Hermit crabs of the Ryukyu Islands The beautiful people of Okinawa © Shawn Miller

The beautiful conch shells are commonly confused with the hazardous cone shells. The main difference is that conch shells have a stromboid notch. A small side slit or indentation which allows the animal to see while moving.  The conch shells movement is much different as well, they travel using a jumping style movement instead of a steady crawling motion.

Ryukyu shell art © Shawn Miller

The animal has strange eyes located at the end of long eye stalks.  The eyes color is usually a vibrant green, yellow and orange combination.

Strawberry conch shell © Shawn Miller

Take a close look at this strawberry conch below. What do you see?   I see two extra eyes poking out of the stromboid notch.  The marine snail naturally has two eyes, not four.

Four-eyed Strawberry conch © Shawn Miller

What is the cause of this?  Could this deformity be caused by nutritional deficiencies, a genetic disorder or pollution?

Four-eyed Strawberry conch © Shawn Miller

Photographed on white for the meet your neighbours project

Four-eyed Strawberry conch © Shawn Miller

The strawberry conch © Shawn Miller

Regardless of the cause, I hope these images will inspire people to care more about nature and make a positive impact in the environment.  We all depend on the ocean in some form. Let’s work together to make a difference.

Protect what we love © Shawn Miller

 My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

– If you would like to use any of my photographs for a publication or website please contact me directly.  Do not use any of my images without permission!   Shawn Miller