Aristovasum cassiforme

Aristovasum cassiforme
Two views of a shell of the helmet vase, Aristovasum cassiforme.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Caenogastropoda
Order: Neogastropoda
Superfamily: Turbinelloidea
Family: Vasidae
Genus: Aristovasum
Species:
A. cassiforme
Binomial name
Aristovasum cassiforme
(Kiener, 1840)
Synonyms[2]
  • Turbinella cassiformis Kiener, 1840
  • Vasum cassidiforme Kiener, 1845[1]

Aristovasum cassiforme, common name the helmet vase, is a species of medium to large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Vasidae.[2]

Distribution

Aristovasum cassiforme lives in the southeastern and northeastern littoral of Brazil,[3] 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.[4]

Aristovasum 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]

Distribution

This marine species occurs off Brazil.

Ecology

Habitat

This sea snail lives on sand and muddy bottoms, to a depth of 70 m.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Rios, E. C. (1994). Seashells of Brazil (2nd ed.). Rio Grande: FURG. ISBN 85-85042-36-2.
  2. ^ a b Aristovasum cassiforme (Kiener, 1840). 16 February 2026. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species.
  3. ^ a b Conquiliologistas do Brasil website. URL: http://www.conchasbrasil.org.br/english/conchology/descricao.asp?id=270. Accessed 29 June 2009.
  4. ^ "Record size for brazilian shells". Conquiliologistas do Brasil. Retrieved 30 September 2009.