Meridiastra calcar
Eight-armed seastar | Eight Armed Sea Star | Patiriella calcar
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Abundant, with eight arms, it is a striking species because of the brilliant combination of reds, oranges, browns, greens and blues on the upper surface. This colour pattern is genetically controlled and can vary greatly between individuals living in the one rockpool. The species is omnivorous, feeding mainly on algae and detritus, but also consuming mussels and other animals swept into rockpools by wave action.
Information
Max Size: 10 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 10.3-21.7°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: Infrequent (10.0% 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: Many (77 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