Kingdom Animalia Class Asteroidea Family Goniasteridae Rank Species | Phylum Echinodermata Order Valvatida Subfamily Pentagonasterinae | |
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Similar Pentagonaster, Astrostole, Valvatida, Asteropsis carinifera, Patiriella regularis | ||
Pentagonaster pulchellus, commonly known as the biscuit star is a species of starfish found in New Zealand, where it is common in Cook Strait and around the South Island. Also recorded from the Chatham Islands and from the Campbell Plateau down to the Snares Islands.
Description and Habitat
The dorsal surface of the biscuit star is studded with hard smooth plates, which enlarge along the margins and especially at the ends of the five arms. Colouring is variable, usually red or orange, brown, or a silvery purple. The ventral side is a mesh of white over light grey, with yellow tube feet. Frequents seaweed beds, rocky and muddy bottoms from low intertidal down to 300m.
References
Pentagonaster pulchellus Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA