Astele speciosa, common name the beautiful top shell, is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Calliostomatidae.[2]

Astele speciosa
Drawing of a shell of Astele speciosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Subclass: Vetigastropoda
Order: Trochida
Superfamily: Trochoidea
Family: Calliostomatidae
Subfamily: Calliostomatinae
Genus: Astele
Species:
A. speciosa
Binomial name
Astele speciosa
(A. Adams in H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854)[1]
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

Notes

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Additional information regarding this species:[2]

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

Description

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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.[3]

Distribution

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

References

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  1. ^ Adams, P. Z. S. 1854, p. 38.
  2. ^ a b Rosenberg, G. (2012). Astele speciosa (A. Adams in H. Adams & A. Adams, 1854). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=467150 on 2012-12-07
  3. ^ Tryon (1889), Manual of Conchology XI, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (described as Calliostoma speciosum)
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  • Encyclopedia of Life
  • World Register of Marine Species
  • "Calliostoma (Astele) speciosum". Gastropods.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  • Seashells of New South Wales: Astele speciosum