Many Thanks to Thomas Watters, Bob Lipe and Paul M, for their comments re;
Strombus pugilis.  I think the' aggressive behaviour'  is a hallmark of
this Family,as I also suffered 'sliced fingers' from their serrated
operculum, while picking up Strombus decorus raybaudii in South Eastern
Turkey a few years ago.  Nevertheless I am inclined to agree with
Tom,considering the great volume of papers he published on alflora fauna &
mollusca, it is doubtful whither Linnaeus ever had the opportunity of
studying the shell in its natural environment, so the 'gladiator glove'
theory would seem to be  the most logical explanation.  Thank you for your
interesting responses.  Stanley Francis