Astralium haematragum

Astralium haematragum
Apertural view of Astralium haematragum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Clade: Vetigastropoda
Superfamily: Trochoidea (superfamily)
Family: Turbinidae
Genus: Astralium
Species: A. haematragum
Binomial name
Astralium haematragum
(Menke, 1829)
Synonyms
  • Trochus columellaris Philippi
  • Trochus gratus Philippi
  • Trochus haematragus Menke, 1829 (original combination)

Astralium haematragum, common name the Pacific star shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Turbinidae, the turban snails.[1]

Description

The size of the shell varies between 15 mm and 25 mm. The imperforate shell is pale ashen. It has an elevated-conic shape with an acute apex. The seven whorls are planulate above, with radiating oblique folds, which are produced into short spines at the periphery. The body whorl is carinated, with ten to twelve spines in a single series. The base of the shell is plano-concave, concentrically squamose-lirate. The aperture is transverse, channelled at the carina. The columella is arcuate, purple or blue margined, dentate at its base. [2]

Distribution

This marine species occurs in the Southwest Pacific and off Japan.

References

External links

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