Anthaster valvulatus
Mottled seastar
Anthaster valvulatus, Albany, WA, Photo: Olivia Johnson
Anthaster valvulatus, Jurien Bay, WA, Photo: Graham Edgar
Anthaster valvulatus, Rapid Bay, WA, Photo: Graham Edgar
Anthaster valvulatus, Albany, WA, Photo: Tyson Jones
Anthaster valvulatus, Rapid Bay, South Australia, Photo: Antonia Cooper
Distribution
Description
Highly variable in colour, shape and in the number and distribution of raised lumps. Also found in a variety of habitats, including reef, seagrass and sand.
Information
Max Size: 24 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 14.7-23.2°C
Depth: N/A
Habitat Generalization Index: N/A
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Not Evaluated
Occurrence: Frequent (10.5% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Rick S-S