Sea Snail Sea shell - S-256 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, large shell of Cassis cornuta - horned helmet - a species of large, predatory prosobranch snail in the Cassidae family, one of the largest snail species. The type species of the genus Cassis. The spire is very low. On the last whorl there are three distinct spiral rows of nodules (horns); the largest of them are on the shoulder, in the upper part of the shell. Adults in the upper row have 5–7 long or short, rounded or pointed tubercles (horns). Two lower rows have 3–4 smaller vesicles. A characteristic feature is clear, dense hammering (net-like sculpturing) on the surface of the shell. The external shell surface is creamy, grayish or whitish, with brown streaks and spots. A large, oval parietal plate, yellowish- or brownish-orange in color, with two speckled, spiral thickenings in the central part of 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 whitish teeth along the mid-inner edge. On the outer surface of the lip there are usually 7 wide brown spots. During growth a new outer lip is expanded after the whorl has rotated 270 degrees relative to the previous lip. Protoconch with 2 ½ narrow whorls, whitish, smooth with a brownish seam on the first whorl. The spindle is orange, with 8–11 faint, whitish lamellae in the lower half. The axial pit is concealed. Sometimes pieces of coral, rocks, or shell fragments become trapped in the pit space, which rattle when the shell is shaken. Dimensions - 230/260/305 mm. Highly recommended for collectors and interior decorators.