Astraea heliotropium
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| Astraea heliotropium (Martyn, 1784) |
Astraea heliotropium or the circular saw shell, is a large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc of the family Turbinidae, the turbans and star snails.
[edit] Distribution
This species is endemic to New Zealand. It is found around the North, South, Stewart, and Chatham islands from low-water to about 130 m.
[edit] Shell description
The colour of Astraea heliotropium varies from greenish to bluish-grey, often yellowish on the base and purplish on the upper surface. The interior of the aperture is iridescent. The operculum is oval, externally with a thick smooth white callus, internally with a thick dark-brown periostracum.
The height of the shell is up to 60 mm, and the width is up to 120 mm.
[edit] References
- Powell A W B, New Zealand Mollusca, William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 0-00-216906-1
- Glen Pownall, New Zealand Shells and Shellfish, Seven Seas Publishing Pty Ltd, Wellington, New Zealand 1979 ISBN 85467 054 8
