Star Arene

The shell can grow to be 6 mm to 16.5 mm in length. (Described as Arene vanhyningi) This shell is of medium size for the genus, characterized by its depressed-conical shape and four remaining whorls (the nuclear whorls are missing). The upper surface is a yellowish gray, contrasting with the stout, stellate peripheral keel, which is white. The underside (base) of the shell is generally grayish white. The early whorls show some axially directed rose spots, which transition to straw brown and become much smaller on later whorls. The shell features a conspicuous sutural canal and complex ornamentation: The upper surface is obscurely axially rugose (wrinkled). These low, broad axial folds often form knobs right at the edge of the sutural channel. The channels between the keels are generally sculptured with fine axial threads. The periphery is defined by three prominent features that give the shell an Astraea Röding, 1798-like appearance. An acute keel is present at the periphery, bearing large, regular, triangular spines. These spines are hollow on the anterior side and increase in size toward the aperture. Just below this main keel is a narrow spiral cord with regular, small, low, anteriorly hollow scales. Below the middle cord is a minutely serrate keel. The base is flattened below the lowest peripheral keel. The base proper is sculptured with four low, beaded cords. …