Sea Snail Sea shell - S-308 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, very large XXL shell Cassis cornuta - horned helmet - a species of large predatory snail in the subfamily Cassidae, 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 tubercles (horns); the largest of them are on the coronation, in the upper part of the shell. Adults in the top row have 5–7 long or short, rounded or pointed tubercles (horns). The two rows lower down have 3–4 smaller tubercles each. A characteristic feature is a pronounced, dense hammered texture (net-like relief) on the surface of the shell. The external surface of the shell is creamy, grayish or whitish, with brown streaks and spots. A large, oval parietal plate, yellowish- or brownish-orange in color, with two spotted, spiral tubercles 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, broad, with 5–7 pale teeth on the inner middle edge. On the outer surface of the lip there are usually 7 wide brown spots. During growth, the outer lip grows as the whorl rotates 270 degrees relative to the previous lip. Protoconch with 2½ narrow whorls, whitish, smooth with a brown seam on the first whorl. Axial spindle orange, with 8–11 faint, whitish lamellae in the lower half. The umbilical pit is covered. Sometimes pieces of coral, rock, or shell fragments get trapped in the space of the pit and rattle when the shell is shaken. Dimensions – 225/235/305 mm. Highly recommended for collectors and interior decorators.