Astele speciosa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Astele speciosa
Drawing of a shell of Astele speciosa
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Calliostoma (Astele) speciosum (Adams, A. in Adams, H.G. & A. Adams, 1854) Pulchrastele speciosa Iredale, T. & McMichael, D.F. 1962 Trochus (Calliostoma) speciosus E. A. Smith, Zizyphus speciosa A. Adams, 1854

Astele speciosa, common name the beautiful top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calliostomatidae.

Additional information regarding this species:

• Taxonomic remark: Some authors place this taxon in the subgenus Astele (Astele)

Description

The size of the shell varies between 20 mm and 43 mm. The pyramidal-conical shell is imperforate, flesh-colored, variegated and punctate with rufous. The whorls are plano-concave, sculptured with transverse subgranulate alternately smaller and larger lirae. The granules are reddish brown. The body whorl is obtusely angular. The base of the shell is concentrically grooved. The umbilical region is impressed and bounded by a rufous callus. The aperture is subquadrate. The solid columella is subarcuate and scarcely truncate anteriorly. The outer lip is lirate within. Its margin is subangulate in the middle.

Distribution

This marine species occurs from Central Queensland to northern New South Wales, Australia