About Astraea heliotropium (Martyn, 1784)
Astraea heliotropium (Martyn, 1784) has a shell that reaches up to 60 mm in height and 120 mm in width. This large shell takes a depressed-conic shape, and is broadly umbilicate and concave below. Its dome-shaped spire is made of 5 convex whorls. The suture forms a zigzag pattern from prominent compressed triangular recurved vaulted spines that arm the acutely carinated periphery. Both the upper and lower sides of the whorls hold numerous spiral series of granules. The wide, deep umbilicus has coarse oblique striations on its inner surface. The aperture is transversely oval, oblique, and pearly within. The peristome is continuous. The columella is slightly dilated, and impinges on the umbilicus. The shell is brownish or purplish above and lighter below in color. This marine species is endemic to New Zealand.
