Sea Snail Sea shell - M-865 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, large shell Cassis cornuta – the horned helmet – a large predatory prosobranch snail from the Cassidae family, one of the largest snail species. The species is the type species of the genus Cassis. The spire is very low. On the last whorl there are three distinct, spiral rows of tubercles with nodules (horns), the largest of them are on the rim, 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 sculpturing) on the surface of the shell. The outer surface of the shell is cream, grayish or whitish, with brown streaks and spots. A large, oval parietal plate, color yellowish- or brown-orange, with two spotted, 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 external lip is thick, broad, with 5–7 whitish teeth on the inner mid-edge. On the outer surface of the lip there are usually 7 broad brown spots. During growth, the 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 umbilical pit is covered. Sometimes in the space of the pit, fragments of corals, rocks, or shell pieces become trapped, which rattle when the shell is shaken. Dimensions – 220/245/300 mm. Highly recommended for collectors and interior decorators.