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.
Flame Helmet Snail
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Cassis flammea
Class:
Gastropoda
Order:
Littorinimorpha
Family:
Cassidae
Image Voucher:
ANSP 401153, ANSP 374022
Shell Information
Length (mm): 76-154
Dextral
Chirality:
The flame helmet has about 6 shell whorls with a very large body whorl. The body whorl has rows of spiral knobs, and a relatively smooth and polished surface. The shell has an elongated aperture with rows of folds on both sides of the inner aperture. A dark brown stain develops between these folds of the inner aperture. Adults have a thick lip that, when viewed from below, has more rounded corners than the king helmet. This shell is typically a tan color with brown streaks and blotches.
Description:
Ecological Information
Distribution:
Depth (m):
East Florida to Barbados
1 to 12 meters
Diet:
Carnivore; They feed on a variety seaurchins.
Habitat:
Marine; Soft substrate and among seagrass
Misc. Facts
Citations
MolluscaBase eds. (2021). MolluscaBase. Cassis flammea (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=419777 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/