Vasum cassiforme

Vasum cassiforme, common name the helmet vase, is a species of medium to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinellidae.

Helmet vase
Two views of a shell of the helmet vase, Vasum cassiforme.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Gastropoda
(unranked):
clade Caenogastropoda
clade Hypsogastropoda
clade Neogastropoda
Superfamily:
Muricoidea
Family:
Turbinellidae
Genus:
Vasum
Species:
V. cassiforme
Binomial name
Vasum cassiforme
(Kiener, 1840)
Synonyms

Vasum cassidiformis Kiener, 1845[1]

Distribution

Vasum cassiforme lives in the southeastern and northeastern littoral of Brazil,[2] including Abrolhos and the brazilian states of Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia and Espírito Santo.[1]

Shell description

The maximum reported size of this species shell is 114.9 mm.[3]

Vasum cassiforme has a large, thick and heavy shell, presenting 8 whorls.[1] One of its most striking characteristics is its rich ornamentation, with foliated cords and spines over the body whorl and shoulder, respectively. It is colored cream[1] or light brown externally, while the aperture may be colored purplish-brown.[1]

Ecology

Habitat

This sea snail lives on sand and muddy bottoms, to a depth of 70 m.[2]

References
  1. Rios, E. C. (1994). Seashells of Brazil (2nd ed.). Rio Grande: FURG. ISBN 85-85042-36-2.
  2. Conquiliologistas do Brasil website. URL: http://www.conchasbrasil.org.br/english/conchology/descricao.asp?id=270. Accessed 29 June 2009.
  3. "Record size for brazilian shells". Conquiliologistas do Brasil. Retrieved 30 September 2009.


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