Sea Snail Sea shell - S-656 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, very large XXL shell Cassis cornuta - horned helmet – a species of large, predatory gastropod from the Cassidae family, one of the largest snail species. The species is the type species of the genus Cassis. The spire is very low. On the last whorl there are three distinct spiral rows of tubercles (horns), the largest of which are on the crown, in the upper part of the shell. Adults in the highest row have 5–7 long or short, rounded or pointed tubercles (horns). The two rows lower have 3–4 smaller tubercles. A characteristic feature is a pronounced, dense beading (a net-like sculpture) on the surface of the shell. The external surface of the shell is cream, grayish, or whitish, with brown bands and spots. A large, oval parietal shield, of yellowish- or brownish-orange color, with two dotted, spiral thickenings in the central part on the surface. The height of the parietal shield in adults is greater than the height of the shell. The outer lip is thick, broad, with 5–7 pale teeth on the inner edge. On the outer surface of the lip there are usually 7 wide brown spots. During growth, the new outer lip is expanded 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 faintly defined, whitish lamellae in the lower half. The umbilical pit is closed. Occasionally in the space of the pit, pieces of coral, rock, or shell fragments may be trapped, which rattle when the shell is shaken. Dimensions - 200/210/280 mm. I highly recommend it to collectors and interior decorators.