-10m, Dived, Poindimie, New Caledonia, 50.6mm.
The aptly named « Asterisk Star » is a very attractive turbinid which appears to be endemic to New Caledonia (may actually extend to northwestern Australia). Although generally accepted as a species in its own right, it is sometimes considered as a subspecies of Astralium stellare (Gmelin, 1791). On average the shell of A. asteriscum is more depressed and the spines are more prominent compared to A. stellare. The number of spines per whorl vary from about 10 to 13. It is locally not uncommon and is a grazing herbivore found in shallow water down to about -40m deep. Typical shell length about 45mm. including spines, very large specimens may approach 65mm.