Sea Snail Sea shell - M-865 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, large shell Cassis cornuta—horned helmet—a species of large, predatory, dextral snail from the Cassidae family, one of the largest snail species. The typical species of the genus Cassis. The spire is very low. On the last whorl, there are three distinct, spiral rows of thickening with knobs (horns), the largest of them on the periphery, in the upper part of the shell. Adults have in the top row 5–7 long or short, rounded or pointed knobs (horns). The two rows below have 3–4 smaller knobs each. A distinctive feature is a clear, dense hammering (net-like relief) on the shell surface. The outer surface of the shell is cream, grayish or whitish, with brown streaks and spots. Large, oval parietal plate, yellowish- or brownish-orange in color, with two blotched, spiral thickenings in the central part of the surface. The height of the parietal plate in adults is greater than the shell height. The outer lip is thick, broad, with 5–7 pale teeth along the inner mid-edge. On the outer surface of the lip there are usually 7 wide brown spots. During growth, the new outer lip expands after the whorl has rotated 270 degrees relative to the previous lip. Protocone with 2 ½ narrow whorls, whitish, smooth with a brown seam on the first whorl. The orange spindle, with 8–11 faint, white ridges in the lower half. Axial pit covered. Sometimes pieces of coral, rock, or shell fragments become trapped in the pit space, rattling when the shell is shaken. Dimensions—220/245/300 mm. Highly recommended for collectors and interior decorators.