Title
Queen Helmet (Cassis madagascariensis)
FMM2011.20.016
Subject
seashells, gastropods, shell collectors
Description
Large white/off-white gastropod shell. Center of spiral mottled with brown. Underside streaked with brown.
The queen helmet is a large, heavy gastropod shell. They can grow up to 410 mm (16 inches) in length. Despite the species name madagascariensis, meaning “of Madagascar”, this shell is found in the Western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea at depths of 3 to 183 meters (10 to 600 feet). The queen helmet shell can be used in making cameos because of its white outer layer and black inner layer, which presents a desirable white on black look when carved.
The queen helmet is a large, heavy gastropod shell. They can grow up to 410 mm (16 inches) in length. Despite the species name madagascariensis, meaning “of Madagascar”, this shell is found in the Western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea at depths of 3 to 183 meters (10 to 600 feet). The queen helmet shell can be used in making cameos because of its white outer layer and black inner layer, which presents a desirable white on black look when carved.
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