Sea Snail Sea shell - S-308 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, very large XXL shell Cassis cornuta — horned helmet — a species of large, predatory gastropod from the family Cassidae, one of the largest snail species. The typus of the genus Cassis. The whorl is very low. On the last whorl there are three distinct spiral rows of tubercles (horns), the largest of which are on the periphery, 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 below contain 3–4 smaller tubercles. A characteristic feature is the pronounced, dense hammering (net-like sculpture) on the shell surface. External surface of the shell is cream-colored, grayish, or white, with brown bands and spots. Large, oval parietal plate, color yellowish- or brown-orange, with two spotted, spiral tubercles 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 outer surface of the lip there are usually 7 broad brown spots. During growth the new outer lip is extended after the whorl has rotated by 270 degrees relative to the previous lip. Protoconch with 2 ½ narrow whorls, pale white, smooth with a brown seam on the first whorl. Spindle (axial) orange, with 8–11 poorly defined pale white ridges in the lower half. Axial umbilical pit covered. Sometimes in the pit space pieces of coral, rocks, or shell fragments become trapped, which rattle when the shell is shaken. Dimensions—225/235/305 mm. Highly recommended for collectors and interior decorators.