Ecology of the King Helmet, Cassis tuberosa (L.), in South Caicos

Alexander Tewfik; Benedict Scheuer

Ecology of the King Helmet, Cassis tuberosa (L.), in South Caicos

Alexander Tewfik^1,* and Benedict Scheuer²

¹Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL 60605, USA.²Department of Environmental Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. *Corresponding author.

Caribbean Naturalist, No. 2 (2013)

Abstract
Cassis tuberosa (King Helmet) is a large predatory gastropod found throughout the Central Western Atlantic region. We examined a relatively undisturbed population of King Helmets within a shallow bay in South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands, in order to develop additional knowledge regarding this potentially threatened species. The majority (74%) of King Helmets were found in moderate to dense seagrass habitats at 15.8 individuals/ha. Frequency distributions of shell length, width, height, and volume, based on 109 individuals, provided insight into population structure. The most common echinoid within the bay, and principal prey (92%) of the King Helmet, was Clypeaster rosaceus (Inflated Sea Biscuit). The King Helmet appears to be an opportunistic predator utilizing the most abundant echinoid prey species. An improved understanding of the ecology of the King Helmet is critical given that over-collection of such predators, primarily for the shell trade, has precipitated cascading effects leading to shifts in benthic community structure in a number of ecosystems.

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