PORT PHILLIP BAY


Five-armed Cushion Star 

Parvulastra exigua (Lamarck, 1816)

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

See below for information.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Echinodermata
Class:
Asteroidea
Order:
Valvatida
Family:
Asterinidae
Genus:
Parvulastra
Species:
exigua

General Description

Arms 5, arm rays merge with disc, pentagonal. Dark red-brown to green on the upper surface, blue underneath (on the oral surface). Centre to arm tip up to 2 cm.

Biology

This species is a grazer, eating algae from rock surfaces.

Habitat

Shallow intertidal rock pools, on and under rocks, to depth of 5 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

South-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Seastars and allies Sea stars

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

4 cm

Diet

Herbivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Species Code

MoV 2655

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, Five-armed Cushion Star, Parvulastra exigua, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 27 Dec 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7772

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