download pdf

194 American Seashells
Adults 4 to 9 inches in length, massive. Three spiral rows of large blunt
spines; the topmost spine of the first row generally the largest. Color pale-
cream on the outer surface. Parietal shield and outer lip pale- to deep-salmon.
Teeth white, brown sometimes between them. Moderately common from
5 to 10 fathoms in the Bahamas. Very rare in Florida where it is replaced
by the Clench's Helmet, the subspecies spinella Clench.
Cassis madagascariensis spinella Clench Clench's Helmet
Off Beaufort, North Carolina (fossil?), and the Florida Keys.
Similar to the typical madagascariensis, but with numerous small, evenly
sized spines, more noticeable on the top row. Frank Lyman has collected
this novel form or subspecies by the dozen in 20 feet of water off the Florida
Keys. It is not a rarity and has been in old collections for many years. We
have seen specimens labelled as coming from the Bimini Islands, Bahamas,
but the record needs confirmation.
Genus Cypraecassis Stutchbury 1837
Cypraecassis testiculus Linne Reticulated Cowrie-helmet
Southeast Florida, Bermuda and the West Indies.
Plate 9c
I to 3 inches in length. Body whorl closely sculptured by small, distinct,
longitudinal ridges which are crossed by a dozen or so spiral grooves, thus
producing a reticulated surface. The shoulder of the body whorl in a very
few specimens may have pinched-up, low tubercles or ribs. It is only a
form. Entire animal light brownish orange, with underside of foot smeared
with darker shades of orange. No periostracum. No operculum. Eggs laid
under small rocks in greenish-brown clusters of 100 or so, teardrop-shaped,
translucent capsules. Reef inhabitant, below low-water level.
Family CYMATIIDAE
Genus Argobiiccinwn Bruguiere 1792
Subgenus Fusitriton Cossmann 1903
Argobuccinu?/! oregoveiisc Redfield Oregon Triton
Bering Sea to San Diego, California.
Plate 24g
4 to 5 inches in length, about 6 whorls. Characterized by its fusiform
shape, convex whorls, which each bear 16 to 18 axial ribs nodulated by the
crossing of smaller spiral pairs of threads. The epidermis is heavy, spiculose,
bristle-like and gray-brown. Aperture and siphonal canal interiors are