Coscinasterias muricata Verrill, 1867

Scientific name: Coscinasterias muricata
  • Author(s)
    Ray Corcoran
  • Updated
    18/12/20
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Coscinasterias muricata - (J.24706) aboral surface Click to enlarge image
Coscinasterias muricata - (J.24706) aboral surface Image: R. Springthorpe
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Coscinasterias
    Species
    muricata
  • Size Range
    Width to 500 mm

Identification:

Seven to 14 (usually 11) long, flexible arms with spines in longitudinal rows along the aboral surface and margins. Aboral surface orange mottled with blue, grey, green and red/brown. Oral surface with two rows of tube feet.

Distribution:

Temperate inshore and continental shelf areas from Port Denison, Qld, south to Tasmania and west to Houtman Abrolhos, WA; Lord Howe Island; Norfolk Island; New Zealand. Depth range 0-140 m.

Australian Museum registration database records for the Sydney region:

Long Reef; Manly (Shelly Beach); Port Jackson (Balmoral; Nielsen Park; Vaucluse); Mackenzie's Bay, Sydney; 9.5 km off Coogee; Little Coogee; Botany Bay (Kurnell Pier); Port Hacking (Gunnamatta Bay; Shiprock near Caringbah). Depth range 0-91 m.

Habitat:

Sheltered reef, silt, sand.

Taxonomic information - synonyms and type material:

Coscinasterias muricata Verrill, 1867: 249.
Type data: syntypes whereabouts unknown.
Type locality: Auckland, New Zealand.

Links for further information:

Atlas of Living Australia

World Register of Marine Species

Additional references:

Clark (1946); Rowe & Gates (1995); Edgar (1997).