Sea Snail Sea shell - S-98 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, very large XXL shell Cassis cornuta — horned helmet — a species of large, predatory proboscis-bearing snail in the family Cassidae, one of the largest snail species. The typus species of the genus Cassis. The spire is very low. On the last whorl there are three distinct, spiral rows of thickenings with knobs (horns), the largest of them are on the crown, in the upper part of the shell. Adults in the upper row have 5–7 long or short, rounded or pointed knobs (horns). The two rows below have 3–4 smaller nodules. A characteristic feature is a clear, dense hammering (net-like relief) on the surface of the shell. The external surface of the shell is cream, grayish or whitish, with brown streaks and spots. Large, oval parietal plate, color yellowish- or brownish-orange, with two spotted, spirally thickened ridges in the central part on the surface. The height of the parietal plate in adults is greater than the height of the shell. The outer lip is thick, wide, with 5–7 pale teeth on the middle inner edge. On the external surface of the lip, there are usually 7 broad brown spots. During growth, the new outer lip is extended after the whorl has rotated 270 degrees relative to the previous lip. Protoconch with 2 ½ narrow whorls, whitish, smooth with a brown seam on the first whorl. The spindle is orange, with 8–11 faintly defined, whitish lamellae in the lower half. The axial socket is covered. Sometimes pieces of coral, rock, or shell fragments get trapped in the notch, which rattle when the shell is shaken. Dimensions – 215/240/315 mm. Highly recommended for collectors and interior decorators."