{{Short description|Species of gastropod}} {{Speciesbox | image = Cassis_cornuta_shell.jpg | image_caption = A shell of ''Cassis cornuta'' | image2 = Cassis cornuta 01.jpg | image2_caption = Five views of a shell of ''Cassis cornuta'' | genus = Cassis | species = cornuta | authority = (Linnaeus, 1758) | synonyms = * ''Buccinum cornutum'' <small>Linnaeus, 1758</small> (basionym) * ''Cassis amboinensis'' <small>Petivier in Tryon, G.W., 1885</small> * ''Cassis brevirostrum'' <small>Petivier in Tryon, G.W., 1885</small> * ''Cassis caputequinum'' <small>Röding, 1798</small> * ''Cassis hamata'' <small>Röding, 1798</small> * ''Cassis labiata'' <small>Dillwyn, L.W., 1817</small> }}
'''''Cassis cornuta''''', common name the '''horned helmet''', is a species of extremely large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Cassidae, the '''helmet shells''' and their allies.<ref name="WoRMS">Rosenberg, G. (2012). Cassis cornuta (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=208963 on 2012-11-25</ref>
==Description== The length of the shell varies between 50 mm and 410 mm. It is the largest of all helmet shells. It has a very solid, heavy, rotund shell with large, horn-like knobs and a wide, flat base. The shell has a dorsally pale orange colour, its base vivid orange, faintly marked with white and brown.<ref name="WoRMS" />
==Habitat== This large sea snail is found on sand and coral rubble, often around reefs.
==Distribution== This species occurs in the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean, off the southern African coast from northern KwaZulu-Natal and from Mozambique,<ref name="Steyn">Steyn, D.G. & Lussi, M. 2005. ''Offshore Shells of Southern Africa'' {{ISBN|0-620-33607-2}}</ref> as well as in the Pacific Ocean.
==Relevance to humans== The shell of ''Cassis cornuta'' is a very popular collector's item. In some places the snail is hunted for meat and is traditionally roasted in the shell over fire. Because of both of these factors, humans are a major enemy, and the species is now at risk in many places. However, worldwide it is not listed in the Red List. Because this snail hunts the crown-of-thorns starfish, which feed on corals, ''Cassis cornuta'' has been put under strict protection in Queensland.
==References== {{Reflist}} * Rippingale, O.H. & McMichael, D.F., 1961. ''Queensland and Great Barrier Reef Shells''. Jacaranda Press, Brisbane. 210 pp. * Abbott, R.T., 1968 [31/Dec/1968]. ''The helmet shells of the world (Cassidae)''. Part 1. Indo-Pacific Mollusca, 2(9):7-198. * Wilson, B. R. & Gillet, K., 1971. ''Australian Shells''. A. H. & A. W. Reed, Sydney * Salvat, B. & Rives, C., 1975. ''Coquillages de Polynésie''. les editions du pacifique, Papeete - Tahiti. 1-391. * Kay, E.A., 1979. ''Hawaiian marine shells. [Reef and shore fauna of Hawaii, Section 4: Mollusca.'' Bernice P. Bishop Museum Special Publication 64(4)]. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. xvii + 653 pp. * Wilson, B., 1993. ''Australian Marine Shells. Prosobranch Gastropods''. Odyssey Publishing, Kallaroo, WA. * Kreipl, K., 1997. ''Recent Cassidae''. Verlag Christa Hemman, Weisbaden. 1-151, pls 1-24.
==External links== * {{Commonscat inline|Cassis cornuta|''Cassis cornuta''}} * {{Gastropods.com|key=4|id=804|title=''Cassis cornuta''|access-date=15 January 2019}}
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Category:Cassidae Category:Gastropods described in 1758 Category:Animal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus