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Snail, Helmet

Semicassis pyrum

Pupu Maeneene

Invertebrate

Mollusca

Gastropoda

Cassidae

Soft Bottom Subtidal
Soft Bottom Subtidal

Feeding:
Predator
Predator
Distribution:
Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
Edibility:
Unknown Edibility
Unknown Edibility
Size:
Hand Sized
Hand Sized



The commonest helmet shell in NZ. It is fairly large and solid, and almost spherical. Often has a spiral rode of nodules on the shoulder of the shell. Coloured pale salmon pink or creamy brown with irregular pale splotches. Shape, size and colour vary with depth.


Clean sands on open coasts.


All helmet shells are carnivorous and often feed on sea urchins








Coastal Marine Inverts Vol 1