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.
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.
The gastropod shell is part of the body of a gastropod or snail, a kind of mollusc. The shell is an exoskeleton, which protects from predators, mechanical damage, and dehydration, but also serves for muscle attachment and calcium storage. Some gastropods appear shell-less (slugs) but may have a remnant within the mantle, or in some cases the shell is reduced such that the body cannot be retracted within it (semi-slug). Some snails also possess an operculum that seals the opening of the shell, known as the aperture, which provides further protection. The study of mollusc shells is known as conchology. The biological study of gastropods, and other molluscs in general, is malacology. Shell morphology terms vary by species group.
Marginella huberti is a species of colorful small sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Marginellidae.
Lentigo lentiginosus, common name the silver conch, is a species of medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.
Euprotomus aurisdianae, common name the Diana conch, is a species of small to medium-sized sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.
Graciliclava costata is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Horaiclavidae.
Inquisitor dampieria is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pseudomelatomidae.
Clavatula helena is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Clavatulidae.
Daphnella cheverti is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Raphitomidae.
Nassarius papillosus, common name : the pimpled nassa, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Nassariidae, the nassa mud snails or dog whelks.
Vexillum helena is a species of small sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters.
Vexillum rugosum, common name the rough mitre, is a species of small sea snail, marine gastropod mollusk in the family Costellariidae, the ribbed miters.
Linatella caudata, common name : the Girdled triton or Poulsen's Triton, is a species of predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cymatiidae.
Phalium glaucum, common name the grey bonnet or glaucus bonnet, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cassidae, the helmet snails and bonnet snails.
Phalium, common name the bonnet shells, is a genus of large sea snails, marine gastropod molluscs in the subfamily Phaliinae of the family Cassidae, the helmet shells, bonnet shells and their allies.
Polyspirella trachealis is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Pyramidellidae, the pyrams and their allies.
Phalium flammiferum, the striped bonnet, is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cassidae, the helmet snails and bonnet snails.
Mangelia helga is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Mangeliidae.
Volvarina ingloria is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Marginellidae, the margin snails.
