Shell of the Week: The Royal Bonnet
The elegant Royal Bonnet, Sconsia grayi A. Adams, 1855, is a close relative of the famous Scotch Bonnet, Semicassis granulata. The Royal Bonnet, however, dwells in deeper water than the Scotch Bonnet, living at depths from 27−640 m (about 90−2,100 ft.) The species may reach 50 mm (about 2 inches) in length. The immature shell illustrated measures about 30 mm (or 1.2 inches.) It was collected (dredged) in early October during the 2021 Northeastern Gulf of Mexico Cruise led by