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Bull Mouth Helmet

Cypraecassis rufa (Linnaeus 1758)

Cypraecassis rufa

provided by wikipedia EN

Cypraecassis rufa is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cassidae. It is commonly known as the bullmouth shell or red helmet shell, and also as the cameo shell.[2]

A shell of Cypraecassis rufa. The anterior end is to the lower left.
Shell showing posterior end, with spire and protoconch, and right side of the shell.

Distribution

This species is found off the southern African coast from northern KwaZulu-Natal and Mozambique. It is more common in Mozambique.[3] It is also a common shell to find on the shores of Kenya.

References

  1. ^ Edward Vanden Berghe (1997). "Cypraecassis rufa (Linnaeus, 1758)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species.
  2. ^ "Cypraecassis (Cypraecassis) rufa". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  3. ^ Steyn, D.G. & Lussi, M. 2005. Offshore Shells of Southern Africa ISBN 0-620-33607-2

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Cypraecassis rufa: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

Cypraecassis rufa is a species of large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cassidae. It is commonly known as the bullmouth shell or red helmet shell, and also as the cameo shell.

A shell of Cypraecassis rufa. The anterior end is to the lower left. Shell showing posterior end, with spire and protoconch, and right side of the shell.
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Description

provided by World Register of Marine Species
A conspicuous, solid, thick, heavy shell, up to 17 cm, with a narrow aperture. Dorsally reddish with 3 or 4 broad spiral bands bearing rounded nodules. Thick outer lip light orange with strong, lighter teeth, and columella orange with white ridges. An important predator of sea urchins. Habitat: shallow, sandy substrates close to coral reefs. Distribution: Indo-Pacific. (Richmond, 1997).

Reference

Drivas, J. & Jay, M. (1988). Coquillages de La Réunion et de l'Île Maurice. Collection les beautés de la nature. Delachaux et Niestlé: Neuchâtel. ISBN 2-603-00654-1. pp. 1-160.

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Edward Vanden Berghe [email]