Astraea Snail - Astraea sp.
Picture taken December 2005, Nikon D70 Digital SLR, Sigma 105mm EX macro lens

Class: Gastropoda.

Subclass: Orthogastropoda.

Superorder: Vetigastropoda.

Superfamily: Trochoidea.

Family: Turbinidae .

"Astraea" means star. When viewed from above the shell has a star shape to it.

Astrea snails have been a commonly used snail in the reef hobby for years. I'm not very impressed with these snails as they seem to be short lived and not very aggressive at eating algae.

Astraea Snail - Astraea sp.
Picture taken December 2005, Nikon D70 Digital SLR, Sigma 105mm EX macro lens

Astraea snails do not have the ability to right themselves if they fall off the rocks onto the sand. They do not come from sandy areas.

If you do not turn them over, they will either be eaten or starve to death and then die if something does upright them.

Astraea Snail - Astraea sp.
Picture taken June 2000, Nikon Coolpix 950 digital camera, no flash

Astraea snails can move across sand pretty easily as pictured here as long as nothing knocks them over.

Astraea Snail - Astraea sp.
Picture taken June 2000, Nikon Coolpix 950 digital camera, Tiffen +10 Closeup Lens, no flash

A view of the animal from its underside. You can clearly see its eye right above the mouth.