Astropecten polyacanthus, NSW, Australia, Photo: Tom Davis
Astropecten polyacanthus, Japan, Photo: Graham Edgar
Distribution
Temperate Australasia, Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Dark purple upper surface and deep orange colour below. The superomarginal plates are also distinctive, as they are situated largely along the sides of the arms and therefore appear longer than broad when viewed from above (other local species have the plates largely on top of the arms.) A large spine is also present on the innermost superomarginal plate, with the next one to three plates usually reduced and lacking spines, thereby creating a gap in the series of upward-pointing spines along the arms.
Information
Max Size: 18 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 15.2-27.8°C
Depth: 0-185m
Habitat: Soft sediment
Rarity
IUCN Threat Status: Not Evaluated
Occurrence: Rare (1% 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: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney
Copyright to the photographs on this site belongs solely to the credited photographers. Any requests for usage can be directed to the photographer through
[email protected].