Sea Snail Sea shell - S-580 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, very large XXL shell: Cassis cornuta – horned helmet – a species of large, predatory foregut-snail in the Cassidae family, one of the largest snail species. The typSpecies of the genus Cassis. The spire is very low. On the last whorl there are three distinct spiral rows of tubercles with nodules (horns), the largest of which are on the rim, in the upper part of the shell. Adults in the top row have 5–7 long or short, rounded or pointed nodules (horns). The two rows below have 3–4 smaller nodules. A characteristic feature is a pronounced, dense hammered (reticulate) texture on the shell surface. The exterior surface of the shell is creamy, grayish, or whitish, with brown streaks and spots. A large, oval parietal plate, color yellowish- or brownish-orange, with two freckled, spiral thickenings in the central part on 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 on the inner mid-edge. On the outer surface of the lip there are usually 7 broad brown spots. During growth, the new outer lip enlarges after the coil has rotated 270 degrees relative to the previous lip. Protoconch with 2 ½ narrow whorls, whitish, smooth with a brown seam on the first whorl. The columella is orange, with 8–11 weakly defined, whitish lamellae in the lower half. The axial canal is covered. Sometimes pieces of coral, rocks, or shell fragments become trapped in the canal space, rattling when the shell is shaken. Dimensions — 225/235/325 mm. Highly recommended for collectors and interior decorators.