Sea Snail Sea shell - S-580 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, very large XXL shell Cassis cornuta—horned helmet—a species of large, predatory, sinistral snail from the family Cassidae, one of the largest snail species. The type species of the genus Cassis. The whorls are very low. On the last whorl there are three distinct spiral rows of bulges (horns); the largest of them are on the crown, in the upper part of the shell. Adults in the upper row have 5–7 long or short, rounded or pointed tubercles (horns). Two rows lower have 3–4 smaller tubercles. A characteristic feature is a clear, dense hammering (net-like sculpture) on the surface of the shell. The external surface of the shell is creamy, grayish, or whitish, with brown streaks and spots. A large, oval parietal plate, yellowish- or brown-orange in color, with two speckled, spiral bulges 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 whitish teeth on the middle inner edge. On the external surface of the lip there are usually 7 wide brown spots. During growth, the new outer lip is extended after the whorl has rotated 270 degrees relative to the previous lip. Protoconch with 2½ narrow whorls, whitish, smooth with a brown seam on the first whorl. Spindle is orange, with 8–11 faintly defined pale lamellae in the lower half. Axial socket (aperture) covered. The axial isogone? Where translated as “Dołek osiowy zakryty.” Sometimes in the space of the socket pieces of coral, rocks, or shell fragments become trapped, rattling when the shell is shaken. Dimensions – 225/235/325 mm. I highly recommend it to collectors and interior decorators.