Cassidae
The Cassidae, commonly called helmet snails or bonnet snails, are a family of medium-sized, large, and sometimes very large marine molluscs. There are around 100 living species of Cassidae occurring in tropical and temperate seas from the intertidal zone to depths of 100m or more buried in the sand during the day and becoming active at night.
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About Cassidae
The shells of many species have great variability, which has led to many misidentifications, resulting in many synonyms. The size range of Cassidae shells is from 20mm-410mm, Cassis cornuta being the largest species and commonly seen in seaside shops and in peoples’ houses as bathroom decoration. Certain species of Cassidae are also a common food source in coastal countries of the Indopacific region.
Cassidae prey on echinoderms (especially sea urchins). The snail makes a hole in the urchin through the combined action of a secretion which is rich in sulfuric acid and by rasping with their radula.
The cameo helmet, Cypraecassis rufa, was used to carve raised relief sculptures known as cameos, that were status symbols, particularly during the Greek and Roman periods, and later during the Renaissance and Victorian eras