Sea Snail Sea shell - S-357 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, large shell of Cassis cornuta—horned helmet—a species of large, predatory snail in the Cassidae family, one of the largest snail species. The shell is in perfect condition with beautiful coloring. A typical 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 on the keel, 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 have 3–4 smaller tubercles each. A characteristic feature is a pronounced, dense hammering (net-like sculpture on the shell surface). The exterior surface of the shell is cream, grayish, or whitish, with brown streaks and spots. A large, oval parietal plate, yellowish- to brownish-orange in color, with two spotted, spiral prominences 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 pale teeth on the middle inner edge. On the external surface of the lip there are usually 7 wide brown patches. During growth, a new outer lip is formed 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 columella is orange, with 8–11 faint whitish lamellae in the lower half. The axis pit is covered. Occasionally pieces of coral, rock, or shell fragments get trapped in the heart-shaped space, rattling when the shell is shaken. Dimensions - 190/200/260 mm. Highly recommended to collectors and interior decorators.