Astropecten polyacanthus
©Anne Hoggett: Astropecten polyacanthus at night, Watson's Bay, Lizard Island, off Chinaman's Ridge, 16 metres depth.
©Anne Hoggett: Detail of upper surface of Astropecten polyacanthus at night, Watson's Bay, Lizard Island, off Chinaman's Ridge, 16 metres depth (specimen 2).
©Anne Hoggett: Pointed tube feet of Astropecten polyacanthus at night, Watson's Bay, Lizard Island, off Chinaman's Ridge, 16 metres depth (specimen 2).
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Echinodermata
Class
Asteroidea
Order
Paxillosida
Family
Astropectinidae
Genus
Astropecten
Species
Astropecten polyacanthus
Colours
Distinguishing features
A five-armed starfish capable of quick movement. Tube feet pointed, without a terminal disc. Arms lined with long spines arising from the inferomarginal plates. Superomarginal plates also with spines, two longer ones in the interradii then a gap of one or two plates with no spines, then each plate has a spine.
Size
- Up to 12 cm (Diameter of Lizard Island specimens)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
-
Animalia:
species: Astropecten pulcherrimus cf.
does not have spines on the proximal supermarginal plates. -
Animalia:
species: Archaster typicus
tube feet have a terminal disc and marginal spines are much shorter.
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Marsh, L.M. and J. Fromont (2020). Field Guide to shallow water seastars of Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth.