Sea Snail Sea shell - S-331 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, large shell Cassis cornuta - horned helmet – a species of large, predatory prosobranch snail from the family Cassidae, 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 (horns), the largest of which are on the coronal area, in the upper part of the shell. Adults in the highest 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 clear, dense hammering (net-like patterning – on the surface of the shell). The outer surface of the shell is cream, grayish or whitish, with brown streaks and spots. Large, oval parietal plate, color yellowish- or brown-orange, with two spotted, spiral thickenings in the central part on 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 central edge. On the outer surface of the lip there are usually 7 broad brown patches. During growth, the new outer lip is extended after the whorl has rotated 270 degrees relative to the previous lip. Protoconch with 2 ½ slender whorls, whitish, smooth with a brown seam on the first whorl. Orange spindle, with 8–11 faintly defined, whitish lamellae in the lower half. Axial depression covered. Occasionally in the axial space pieces of coral, rocks, or pieces of shell may be trapped, which rattle when the shell is shaken. Dimensions - 210/220/285 mm. I highly recommend it to collectors and interior decorators.