Sea Snail Sea shell - S-256 CASSIS CORNUTA

Beautiful, very large XXL Cassis cornuta shell—Horned Helmet—a species of large predatory prosobranch sea snail in the family Cassidae, and one of the largest snail species. The type species of the genus Cassis. The spire is very low. The body whorl has three distinct spiral rows of thickened ridges with knobs (horns), the largest of which are on the shoulder, in the upper part of the shell. Adult specimens have 5–7 long or short, rounded or pointed knobs (horns) in the uppermost row. The two lower rows each have 3–4 smaller knobs. A characteristic feature is the distinct, dense hammering (reticulate sculpture on the shell’s surface). The shell’s outer surface is cream, grayish or whitish, with brown streaks and spots. A large, oval parietal shield, yellowish or brownish-orange in color, with two spotted spiral thickenings in the central part of its surface. In adults, the parietal shield is taller than the shell. The outer lip is thick and broad, with 5–7 whitish teeth along its central inner edge. The outer surface of the lip usually has 7 broad brown spots. As the specimen grows, a new outer lip forms after the whorl has grown by 270 degrees relative to the previous lip. The protoconch has 2½ narrow whorls, and is whitish and smooth, with a brownish suture on the first whorl. The columella is orange, with 8–11 faintly defined whitish ridges on its lower half. The umbilicus is covered. Sometimes pieces of coral, rock, or shell become trapped in the umbilical cavity and rattle when the shell is shaken. Dimensions: 230/260/305 mm. Highly recommended for collectors and interior decorators.