Cassis madagascariensis
| Cassis madagascariensis | |
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| Subgenus: | Cassis
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| Species: | C. madagascariensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Cassis madagascariensis Lamarck, 1822
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Cassis madagascariensis spinella Clench, 1944 | |
Cassis madagascariensis, common name the queen helmet, is a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cassidae, the helmet shells and bonnet shells.[1]
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.[2]
Habitat
United States Virgin Islands, St. John. Emperor/Queen Helmet Snails frequently observed (photographed) in depths as shallow as two feet.[3] This contradicts the previously reported minimum depth of 3 m.[2] The maximum recorded depth is 183 m.[2]
Human uses
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.
References
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ http://www.snorkelstj.com/helmet-snail.html
- Rosenberg, G.; Moretzsohn, F.; García, E. F. (2009). 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. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas.
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