Sea Snail Sea shell - S-331 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, large shell Cassis cornuta - horned helmet - a species of large, predatory univalve snail from 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 enlargements with knobs (horns), the largest of them are on the crown, in the upper part of the shell. Adults in the top row have 5–7 long or short, rounded or pointed knobs (horns). The two rows lower have 3–4 smaller knobs. 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. A large, oval parietal plate, color yellowish- or brownish-orange, with two spotted, spiral enlargements 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 whitish teeth on the central inner edge. On the external surface of the lip there are usually 7 broad brown spots. During growth, the new outer lip grows after the whorl has rotated 270 degrees relative to the previous lip. The protoconch has 2½ narrow whorls, whitish, smooth with a brown seam on the first whorl. The spire is orange, with 8–11 faintly defined, whitish lamellae in the lower half. The axial notch is covered. Sometimes pieces of coral, rocks, or shell fragments are trapped in the notch space, and they rattle when the shell is shaken. Dimensions - 210/220/285 mm. Highly recommended to collectors and interior decorators.