Calliostomatidae – Calliostomatinae: Astele (Astele) armillata (Wood, 1828) (‘jewelled top-shell’)

Synonym(s): armillata Wood, 1828 meyeri Philippi, 1848 levis Hombron & Jacquinot, 1851 euglyptus A. Adams, 1854.

Typical shell-length 35 mm. Umbilicus closed. Unusually for top-shells, members of this family are predatory, feeding on sponges. Lives subtidally and offshore on sponges in sandy areas. Native. Endemic to southeastern and southwestern Australia (NSW, TAS, VIC, SA and WA). In Tasmanian waters, this is a widespread species, but seldom beached in numbers; most beached shells are worn or broken.