Cassis madagascariensis

Last updated

Cassis madagascariensis
Cassis madagascariensis from Margarita Island.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Littorinimorpha
Family: Cassidae
Genus: Cassis
Species:
C. madagascariensis
Binomial name
Cassis madagascariensis
Lamarck, 1822
Synonyms

Cassis madagascariensis spinellaClench, 1944

Cassis madagascariensis, common name the queen helmet, is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cassidae, the helmet shells and bonnet shells.It is known for being the largest species of its family in the Atlantic Ocean. This organism has 4 direct children, which include Cassis madagascariensis f. spinella Clench, Cassis madagascariensis spinella Clench, Cassis madagascariensis var. major Rigacci , and Cassis madagascariensis var. minor Rigacci. [1]

Contents

Emperor/Queen Helmet Snail in the wild. Helmet-snail 8679.JPG
Emperor/Queen Helmet Snail in the wild.

Distribution

This species occurs in the tropical Western Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The specific name "madagascarensis" literally means "of Madagascar", but this was a misunderstanding of the type locality by the original author.

Description

The maximum recorded shell length is 409 mm. The organism does not have a vertebrae. Has a large and heavy shell, with a short spire. [2] This shell typically has three rows of blunt knobs and smaller lines of spiral folds. It has an elongated aperture with folds on both sides of the inner aperture. This shell can vary in color from white to tan and sometimes has brown markings and blotches. [3]

Habitat

United States Virgin Islands, St. John. Emperor/Queen Helmet Snails frequently observed (photographed) in depths as shallow as two feet. [4] This contradicts the previously reported minimum depth of 3 m. [2] The maximum recorded depth is 183 m. [2]

Human uses

Cameo by Ascione manufacture, 1925, Naples, Coral and Cameo Jewellery Museum. Cameo of Sardinian conch, Ascione e Antonio Mennella 1925, Museo Ascione.jpg
Cameo by Ascione manufacture, 1925, Naples, Coral and Cameo Jewellery Museum.

Shells of Cassis madagascariensis are used in jewellery to make cameos. In the Maldives the shell is boiled and the boiled water of the shell is used as a traditional remedy for Flu and fever like symptoms.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotch bonnet (sea snail)</span> Species of mollusc

The Scotch bonnet is a medium-sized to large species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the subfamily Cassinae, the helmet shells and bonnet shells. The common name "Scotch bonnet" alludes to the general outline and color pattern of the shell, which vaguely resemble a tam o' shanter, a traditional Scottish bonnet or cap. The shell is egg-shaped and fairly large, 2 to 4 inches in maximum dimension, with a regular pattern of yellow, orange or brown squarish spots. The surface sculpture of the shell is highly variable: the surface can be smooth and polished, have grooves, be granulated, or even be nodulose on the shoulder of the whorls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flamingo tongue snail</span> Species of gastropod

The flamingo tongue snail is a species of small but brightly colored sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Ovulidae, the ovulids, cowry allies or false cowries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassidae</span> Family of gastropods

The Cassidae are a taxonomic family of medium-sized, large, and sometimes very large sea snails commonly called helmet snails or bonnet snails. These are marine gastropod mollusks in the superfamily Tonnoidea and the clade Littorinimorpha.

<i>Lithopoma phoebium</i> Species of gastropod

Lithopoma phoebium, common name the longspine star shell, is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Conus regius</i> Species of sea snail

Conus regius, common name the "crown cone", is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Conidae, the cone snails and their allies.

Brachycythara biconica, common name the biconic top turrid, is a species of very small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.

<i>Lithopoma caelatum</i> Species of gastropod

Lithopoma caelatum, common name the carved star shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

<i>Lithopoma tectum</i> Species of sea snail

Lithopoma tectum, common name the West Indian starsnail, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

Lamellitrochus pourtalesi is a deep-sea species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Solariellidae.

Calliostoma barbouri is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calliostomatidae.

Calliostoma bigelowi, common name Bigelow's top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calliostomatidae.

<i>Calliostoma javanicum</i> Species of gastropod

Calliostoma javanicum, common name the chocolate-lined top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calliostomatidae.

<i>Chicoreus florifer</i> Species of gastropod

Chicoreus (Triplex) florifer, common name : the flowery lace murex, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

<i>Synaptocochlea picta</i> Species of gastropod

Synaptocochlea picta, common name the painted false stomatella, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Trochidae, the top snails.

<i>Charonia variegata</i> Species of gastropod

Charonia variegata, the Atlantic triton or Atlantic triton's trumpet, is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Charoniidae, the triton snails, triton shells, or tritons.

Zebinella striosa is a species of minute sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk or micromollusk in the family Rissoinidae.

<i>Cassis flammea</i> Species of gastropod

Cassis flammea is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cassidae, the helmet snails and bonnet snails.

<i>Cypraecassis testiculus</i> Species of gastropod

Cypraecassis testiculus, common name the reticulated cowry helmet, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cassidae, the helmet snails and bonnet snails.

<i>Echinophoria coronadoi</i> Species of gastropod

Echinophoria coronadoi is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cassidae, the helmet snails and bonnet snails.

Turbo canaliculatus, common name the channeled turban, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.

References

  1. Rosenberg, G. (2015). Cassis madagascariensis Lamarck, 1822. In: MolluscaBase (2015). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=419778 on 2016-01-05
  2. 1 2 3 Welch J. J. (2010). "The "Island Rule" and Deep-Sea Gastropods: Re-Examining the Evidence". PLoS ONE 5(1): e8776. doi : 10.1371/journal.pone.0008776.
  3. https://www.seahorseandco.com/shells/emperor-helmet-snail
  4. "Helmet Snail - Cassis tuberosa, Cassis madagascariensis - USVI Caribbean".