A large marine snail belonging to the Helmet Shell family (Cassidae). Distinguished by its thick shell, prominent rounded knobs, and tooth-lined aperture, it inhabits tropical sandy bottoms and coral reefs. Helmet shells are predators of sea urchins and other echinoderms, playing an important ecological role in reef environments. The heavy shell provides protection from predators and has made these shells prized by collectors for centuries.
Family: Strombidae
The spider conch is a tropical marine snail famous for the long finger-like extensions around its shell opening. Found in shallow Indo-Pacific waters, these projections help stabilize the animal on sandy seabeds and deter predators. Unlike many snails, living spider conchs move by making short hopping motions using a powerful muscular foot. The weathered white specimen shown here has lost much of its original coloration through exposure to sun and sea.
Ms Alexandra is the great grand niece of Dr Sun Yat Sen. She and her team from China visited 15 Clarke Street Gallery to discover more about the Perak China Connect during the Chinee Revolution of 1911.
Dr Leong Oon Keong gave a 45 minutes presentation on the Perak China Connect followed by networking and dinner.
