Flame helmet (Cassis flammea)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Cassis flammea
- Common name
- Flame helmet
- Category
- Molluscs
- Family
- Cassidae
- Genus
- Cassis
- Size
- 10–22 cm
- Depth
- 2–50 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- sand
- Behaviours
- solitary, nocturnal, predator
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Eastern Pacific
Description
Cassis flammea reaches 22 cm. Large gastropod with a thick tilted helmet-shaped shell, orange-brown to cream with characteristic flame patterns, aperture lined with serrated teeth. Specialist predator of sea urchins which it pierces with gastric acid then consumes. Nocturnal: spends the day buried in sand, emerges at night to hunt. Caribbean sandy-rocky bottoms from 2 to 50 m. Locally threatened by decorative collection.
Photo of Flame helmet
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Flame helmet?
- Flame helmet (Cassis flammea) reaches 10–22 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Flame helmet?
- Flame helmet is found between 2–50 m deep.
- Is the Flame helmet dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Flame helmet?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Flame helmet?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Cassis
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 419777)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5192352)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia