Sea Snail Sea shell - S-256 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, very large XXL shell of Cassis cornuta—the horned helmet—one of the largest predatory prosobranch snails in the Cassidae family. The type species of the genus Cassis. The spire is very low. On the final whorl there are three distinct spiral rows of tubercles (spines), the largest of them on the periphery, in the upper part of the shell. Adults in the top row have 5–7 long or short, rounded or pointed nodules (spines). The two rows below have 3–4 smaller projections. A characteristic feature is the pronounced, dense wrinkling (reticulate sculpture) on the shell surface. The outer surface of the shell is cream, grayish or whitish, with brown bands and spots. A large, oval parietal plate, yellowish- or brown-orange in color, 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 outer lip is thick, wide, with 5–7 whitish teeth on the mid-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 270 degrees relative to the previous lip. Protoconch with 2 ½ narrow whorls, whitish, smooth with a brownish seam on the first whorl. Orange columella, with 8–11 poorly defined, whitish lamellae in the lower half. Axial notch covered. Sometimes pieces of corals, rocks, or shell fragments become trapped in the space of the notch, which rattle when the shell is shaken. Dimensions - 230/260/305 mm. Highly recommended for collectors and interior decorators.