Astele speciosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Astele speciosa |
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| Drawing of a shell of Astele speciosa | |
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Astele speciosa, also known as the beautiful top shell, is a type of sea snail. It is a marine gastropod mollusk. This means it is a snail that lives in the ocean. It belongs to the family called Calliostomatidae.
About the Beautiful Top Shell
The beautiful top shell gets its name from its pretty appearance. It is a fascinating creature that lives on the ocean floor. Scientists first described this species in 1854.
What Does It Look Like?
The shell of the beautiful top shell is shaped like a pyramid or a cone. It can be between 20 mm and 43 mm tall. That's about the size of a small coin to a large button.
The shell is often a flesh color. It has patterns and tiny dots that are reddish-brown. The spirals, called whorls, are mostly flat or slightly curved inwards. They have ridges that can feel bumpy. These bumps are also reddish-brown.
The main part of the shell, called the body whorl, has a rounded, angled shape. The bottom of the shell has circular grooves. The opening of the shell, called the aperture, looks like a square. The inner edge of the opening, the columella, is strong and slightly curved. The outer edge, or lip, has ridges inside.
Where Does It Live?
This marine snail lives in the waters off Australia. You can find it from Central Queensland down to northern New South Wales. It prefers the ocean environment in these areas.
