Cassis tessellata – Large West African Helmet Shell –...

A large specimen of the tessellate helmet (Cassis tessellata), from the Atlantic waters off Senegal, measuring 205 mm in length. Belonging to the Cassidae family, this species is also known by the English common name West African Helmet, due to the imposing shape and the particularly robust shell structure that recalls an ancient helm. Scientifically described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1791, Cassis tessellata is a characteristic species of the tropical eastern Atlantic, distributed along the western African coasts, where it primarily inhabits sandy and sedimentary seabeds. The specimen presents a massive shell, with a highly developed last whorl and a relatively low spire, adorned with a sequence of knobby reliefs and spiral ribbing. Viewed from above, the structure reveals a distinctive concentric geometry: the whorls of the spire progressively wrap around the apex, forming a series of carved bands, crossed by numerous growth lines and regularly distributed small protrusions. With a length of 205 mm, this specimen offers an interesting testimony to the morphology of one of the large characteristic shells of the African Atlantic coasts, suitable for a malacological collection, for a contemporary Wunderkammer, or for a natural history display. Condition of the specimen: the shell shows a break with chipping and loss of material at the terminal part of the siphonal canal, clearly visible in the photographs. Please examine all the images carefully, as they document the actual condition of the specimen. Specimen data Scientific name: Cassis tessellata (Gmelin, 1791) Family: Cassidae Common name: West African Helmet Provenance: Senegal, West Africa Habitat: Marine, Eastern Atlantic Ocean Length: 205 mm Condition: Natural shell with breakage and chipping in the siphonal canal area, as documented in the photographs.

Estimation:€325

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