Astraea heliotropium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Astraea heliotropium |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
The Astraea heliotropium is a large sea snail. People often call it the sunburst star turban or the circular saw shell. It is a type of marine gastropod mollusc, meaning it lives in the ocean and has a soft body, often protected by a shell. This snail belongs to the Turbinidae family, which includes turban and star snails.
The famous explorer Captain Cook was the first to bring this large snail to Europe.
Shell Features
This snail's shell can be quite large. It can be up to 60 millimeters (about 2.4 inches) tall. Its width can reach up to 120 millimeters (about 4.7 inches).
The large shell has a flattened cone shape. It is wide and hollow underneath. The top part, called the spire, looks like a dome. It is made of five rounded sections called whorls.
The lines between these sections, called sutures, look like zigzags. This is because of the sharp, triangle-shaped spines that stick out around the edge of the shell. Both the top and bottom parts of the whorls have many small bumps arranged in spirals.
The wide hollow area, called the umbilicus, is deep. It has rough, slanted lines inside. The opening of the shell, called the aperture, is oval-shaped and shiny inside, like a pearl. The edge of the opening is smooth and continuous. The part of the shell near the opening, called the columella, is slightly wider and extends into the umbilicus. The shell's color is usually brownish or purplish on top and lighter underneath.
Where They Live
This marine snail lives only in New Zealand. This means it is endemic to that area.
See also
In Spanish: Astraea heliotropium para niños
