Scotch bonnet (shell)

The Scotch bonnet Semicassis granulata granulata, also known as the ridged bonnet, is a medium-sized subspecies of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the subfamily Cassinae, the helmet snails and bonnet snails.

The name "Scotch bonnet" comes from the fact that the checkered shell of this species has a vague resemblance to a traditional tartan hat, as used to be commonly worn in Scotland.

Distribution

This subspecies is found along the Atlantic coast of the Americas from the southeastern United States to Brazil.

Habitat

This sea snail lives subtidally, on offshore sandy bottoms.

Shell description

The shell of this species can sometimes grow as large as 10 cm (4 in) in length although adult size is often half that. There are 20 spiral grooves on the body whorl. The shell color is white or cream with squarish blocks of brown or yellow. The shell is somewhat fragile: an intact Scotch bonnet shell is a rare find for a beachcomber.

Human use

The shell of this species is the state shell of North Carolina.

References