Smilasterias irregularis, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Tom Davis
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Five-armed species with a similar general appearance to Allostichaster polyplax, but with proportionately longer and thinner arms and without the spinelets on the upper surface forming a regular pattern. The colour is generally light pink, mottled with maroon. It is a cryptic species, generally remaining concealed under rock rubble during the day. Its distribution is highly patchy; in some locations it occurs abundantly, but through much of its geographic range the species is absent from apparently suitable areas.
Information
Max Size: 13 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 15.4-25.2°C
Depth: 1-30m
Habitat: Rocky Reef
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
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