Malacology
Malacology is the study of mollusks. This includes animals like octopus, snails, slugs, and clams. It is the second largest phylum of animals, making them one of the most successful groups on the planet. There are over 80,000 described species of mollusks with many more left to be discovered. Mullusca is composed of 8 recognized classes including Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Polyplacophora, Scaphapoda, Monoplacophorans, the Aplacophorans, Caudofoveata and Solenogastres, and Bivalvia.
Emperor Helmet Snail
Lamarck, 1822
Cassis madagascariensis
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Littorinimorpha
Family:
Cassidae
Image Voucher:
ANSP 243787, ANSP 407570
Shell Information
Maximum length (mm): 409
Dextral
Chirality:
The is a large shell that has a very reduced spire and an enlarged body whorl. 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. A dark brown stain will develop between the folds of the inner aperture. Adults develop a thick flattened lip. This shell can vary in color from white to tan and sometimes has brown markings and blotches.
Description:
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
North Carolina to Barbados
3 to 183 meters
Diet:
Carnivore; They feed on a variety seaurchins.
Habitat:
Marine; Soft substrate and among seagrass
Misc. Facts
This is the largest helmet shell found on the east coast of the United States. This shell is also sometimes called Clench's Helmet.
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Cassis madagascariensis Lamarck, 1822. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=419778 on 2021-06-23
Rosenberg, G., F. Moretzsohn, and E. F. Garc�a. 29. Gastropoda (Mollusca) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 579�699 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico�Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas.
Morris, P. A. (1987). A field guide to shells: Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the West Indies (3rd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.
Rosenberg, G. 2009. Malacolog 4.1.1: A Database of Western Atlantic Marine Mollusca. [WWW database (version 4.1.1)] URL http://www.malacolog.org/