Kingdom Animalia Family Stichasteridae Scientific name Stichaster australis Rank Species | Class Asteroidea Genus Stichaster Phylum Echinodermata Order Forcipulatida | |
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Similar Pisaster, Fromia, Pisaster ochraceus, Protoreaster linckii, Coscinasterias calamaria | ||
Reef starfish (Stichaster australis) is a species of starfish found in the South Pacific Ocean around New Zealand. A keystone species, the carnivorous starfish plays an important part in reducing the expansion of mussels.
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Description
S. australis is pink or purple in color, with 11 arms.
Ecological impact
Found throughout New Zealand, S. australis is a keystone species in both the North and South Islands, playing an important role in mussel predation. In one study on the west coast of the South Island conducted in the 1970s, S. australis was found to have removed a majority of transplanted mussels within two or three months of their placement, while the mussels expanded within six months to cover 20-30% of the low zone when S. australis was removed. Without their predation, the mussels overwhelmed the area, threatening biodiversity.
The juveniles of the species are detritivores.