PORT PHILLIP BAY


Vermillion Seastar 

Pentagonaster duebeni Gray, 1847

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

See below for information.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Asteroidea
Order:
Valvatida
Family:
Goniasteridae
Genus:
Pentagonaster
Species:
duebeni

General Description

Arms 5, deeply incurved so that ends of rays become finger-like arms. Margin with large plates, more than 8 upper marginal plates between ends of rays. Disc and arms uniform red or orange or yellow, frequently with white edges to the dorsal plates. Centre to arm tip up to 8 cm.

Biology

This colourful sea star is rarely seen and little is known of its biology.

Habitat

On rocky substrates, to depth of 160 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Seastars and allies Sea stars

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

16 cm

Diet

Omnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 2643

Identify

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author O'Loughlin, P. M.

Mark O'Loughlin is an Honorary Associate in marine invertebrates at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
O'Loughlin, P. M., 2011, Vermillion Seastar, Pentagonaster duebeni, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 28 Mar 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7766

Text: creative commons cc by licence