Pentagonaster dubeni
Fire-brick star
Pentagonaster dubeni, Adelaide, SA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Pentagonaster dubeni, Port Phillip Bay, VIC, Photo: Antonia Cooper
Pentagonaster dubeni, Port Davey, TAS, Photo: Antonia Cooper
Pentagonaster dubeni, Sydney, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Pentagonaster dubeni, Port Macquarie, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Pentagonaster dubeni, Chain of Bays, SA, Photo: Andrew Green
Pentagonaster dubeni, Rottnest Is, WA, Photo: Andrew Green
Similar Species
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Easily recognisable due to its bright yellow, orange and red colouration on its plates which are separated by thin white or yellow lines. Arm length and plate size can vary slightly. This species is most often observed in shallow, sheltered bays.
Information
Max Size: 15 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 12-25.5°C
Depth: 0-200m
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 (24.0% 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