Sea Snail Sea shell - S-631 MELO AMPHORA (No reserve price)

The beautiful Melo amphora shell, popularly known as the Diadem volute, is a very large sea snail, a mollusk in the family Volutidae, the volutes. This large shell has a bulbous or almost oval outline. The columella has three easily recognizable diagonal folds. The aperture is wide and almost as long as the shell itself and it has no operculum. It has a very large, inflated body whorl that is expanded toward the rear. One of its most striking features is the arm with prominent curved hollow spines. These spines become worn down in later growth stages. The siphonal canal is usually very short. It is said that the color of the Melo amphora shell is highly variable. It is usually brown, white, or pale orange. It typically features spiral darker brown bands. The interior is glazed, most often in cream or pinkish-orange. Dimensions - 80/115/180 mm. Highly recommended for collectors and interior decorators.