Archaster typicus
©Anne Hoggett: Archaster typicus at low tide on mudflat at Mangrove Beach, Lizard Island (July 2007).
©Anne Hoggett: The outline is often all that is visible. At low tide on mudflat at Mangrove Beach in July 2007
©Anne Hoggett: At low tide on mudflat at Mangrove Beach in July 2007
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Echinodermata
Class
Asteroidea
Order
Valvatida
Family
Archasteridae
Genus
Archaster
Species
Archaster typicus
Colours
Distinguishing features
Tube feet cylindrical, with a terminal disc.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
-
Animalia:
species: Astropecten polyacanthus
has tapering tube feet without a terminal disc, and much longer marginal spines. -
Animalia:
species: Astropecten pulcherrimus cf.
has tapering tube feet without a terminal disc, and much longer marginal spines.
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Behaviour
This species engages in pseudocopulation behaviour. A male climbs on top of a female and is induced to spawn when the female sheds eggs. Pseudocopulating pairs are occasionally seen in shallow water at Lizard Island.
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Clark, A.M. and F.W.E. Rowe (1971). Monograph of shallow-water Indo-west Pacific echinoderms British Museum (Natural History), London.
- Coleman, N. (2007). Sea Stars: Echinoderms of the Asia/Indo-Pacific Neville Coleman's Underwater Geographic, Springwood, Qld. Australia.
Other references
- Rowe, F.W.E. and J. Gates (1995). Echinodermata in: Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 33, xiii, 510 pp. Wells, A. (Ed.). CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia.