Nectria saoria
Saoris seastar
Nectria saoria, Chain of Bays, SA, Photo: Andrew Green
Nectria saoria, Albany, WA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Similar Species
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Bright orange to red colour, easily distinguished from other species by the large, rounded and crowded tabulae that extend to the tips of the arms, and the distinctive network of black papillae between the tabulae.
Information
Max Size: 14 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 12.5-22.7°C
Depth: 0-30m
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 (15.0% 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: Few (2 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