PORT PHILLIP BAY


Seastar 

Astrostole scaber (Hutton, 1872)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

See below for information.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Asteroidea
Order:
Forcipulatida
Family:
Asteriidae
Genus:
Astrostole
Species:
scaber

General Description

Arms 7, tapering to narrow end, sometimes of different lengths. Body pattern mottled with blue and brown, tube feet bright orange. Centre to arm tip up to 22 cm.

Biology

This is a New Zealand species introduced onto the eastern coast of southern Australia. Its arms are usually of different lengths because of regeneration due to lost or damaged arms.

Habitat

Rocky substrates, to depth of 146 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

New Zealand, Tasmania and eastern Victoria.

Species Group

Seastars and allies Sea stars

Depth

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

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

44 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Introduced to Australia

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, Seastar, Astrostole scaber, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 27 Jul 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/4690

Text: creative commons cc by licence