Carpet Sea Star
Click to enlarge image
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Patiriella
- Species
- calcar
- Family
- Asterinidae
- Order
- Valvatida
- Class
- Asteroidea
- Phylum
- Echinodermata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 5 cm
Carpet Sea Star
Image: Dr Isobel Bennett© Australian Museum
Introduction
The three most common sea stars in Sydney belong to the genus Patiriella. They may be difficult to see at first because of their small size and excellent camouflage in rock pools, crevices or under boulders.
Identification
The colour and pattern of individual Carpet Sea Stars vary greatly. They usually have a grey-green background with splotches of orange, yellow or red. You may also notice several tiny sea stars surrounding a larger one.
Habitat
Carpet Sea Stars live on intertidal rocky shores to a depth of 3 m.
Distribution
Carpet Sea Stars are found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.
Other behaviours and adaptations
The Carpet Sea Star has well-defined arms, whereas the arms of the other two common species in the area (Patiriella exigua and P. gunnni) are not well developed, giving these sea stars a pentagonal or hexagonal shape.
Life history cycle
Sea stars from the genus Patiriella differ from most other echinoderms by being 'viviparous', meaning that they give birth to live young. The juveniles develop within the parent.
