Sea Snail Sea shell - M-865 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, large shell Cassis Cornuta - horned helmet - a species of large predatory tropical snail in the family Cassidae, one of the largest snail species. The type species of the genus Cassis. The spire is very low. On the last whorl there are three distinct spiral rows of tubercles with knobs (horns), the largest of them on the annulus, in the upper part of the shell. Adults in the highest 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 hammering (net-like relief) on the surface of the shell. The external surface of the shell is cream, grayish or whitish, with brown streaks and spots. A large, oval parietal plate, color yellowish- or brownish-orange, with two dotted, spiral tubercles in the central part of the surface. The height of the parietal plate in adults is greater than the height of the shell. The external lip is thick, wide, with 5–7 whitish teeth on the inner central edge. On the external surface of the lip there are usually 7 broad brown spots. During growth, the new outer lip is extended after the whorl 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 spindle is orange, with 8–11 faint, whitish bars in the lower half. Axial umbilical pit covered. Sometimes pieces of coral, rock, or shell fragments become trapped in the hollow space, which clatter when the shell is shaken. Dimensions - 220/245/300 mm. I highly recommend it to collectors and interior decorators.