Ophidiaster confertus

Orange long-armed seastar
Ophidiaster confertus
Ophidiaster confertus, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Tom Davis
Ophidiaster confertus
Ophidiaster confertus, Norfolk Island, NSW, Photo: Graham Edgar
Ophidiaster confertus
Ophidiaster confertus, Lord Howe Island, NSW, Photo: Graham Edgar
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Ophidiaster confertus
Ophidiaster confertus
Ophidiaster confertus

Distribution

Temperate Australasia


Description

Long orange arms that are rounded in cross-section. They bend sinuously over the reef surface, and often have their tips missing.


Information

Max Size: 30 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 18.7-25.6°C

Depth: 0-50m

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: Common (38.1% 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: Several (8 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