PORT PHILLIP BAY


Paddle-spined Seastar 

Allostichaster palmula Benavides Serrato & O'Loughlin, 2007

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

See below for information.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Asteroidea
Order:
Forcipulatida
Family:
Asteriidae
Genus:
Allostichaster
Species:
palmula

General Description

Arms 5 or 6, sometimes of differing lengths, short and wide, not tapering. Edge of arm with paddle-like spines. Disc and upper arms brown, with edges white. Centre to arm tip up to 5 mm.

Biology

This is the smallest known seastar in the world. It has fissiparous reproduction where the animal divides in two to create new individuals.

Habitat

Limited information known, on bryozoans and in sediment, to depth of 12 m.

Reefs

Soft substrates

Distribution guide

Central and eastern Victoria.

Species Group

Seastars and allies Sea stars

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

1 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native 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, Paddle-spined Seastar, Allostichaster palmula, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 10 Dec 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/4837

Text: creative commons cc by licence