Sea Snail Sea shell - S-589 MELO AMPHORA (No reserve price)

The beautiful Melo amphora shell, commonly known as the volute Diadem, is a very large sea snail, a mollusk of sea snails in the family Volutidae, the volutes. This large shell has a bulbous or almost oval outline. The columella bears three easily recognizable oblique folds. The aperture is wide and almost as long as the shell itself and has no operculum. It has a very large, swollen and posteriorly expanded body whorl. One of its most striking features is the limb with prominent curved hollow spines. These spines become worn in later growth stages. The spire is usually very short. It is said that the color of the Melo amphora shell is highly variable. It typically has brown, white, or light orange color. It usually features spiral darker brown bands. The interior is glassy, most often cream or pink-orange in color. Dimensions: 50/70/130 mm. Highly recommended for collectors and interior decorators.