Spotted Sea Star

Appearance

It is inflated centrally with five arms round in cross-section tapering to a narrowly rounded point. Aboral surface with distinctive rounded, elevated areas (tabulae) that decrease in size along the arms distally.The tabulae have a convex and granular upper surface, and are separated by gaps that are not raised. Colours are variable but orange with dark red is common.

Naming

Synonym: Nectria oculifera

Distribution

Temperate inshore, continental shelf and slope areas from Broughton Island, NSW, south to Tasmania and to western end of Great Australian Bight. Depth range intertidal to 230 m.