General Description
The arms are branched several times; the disc covered in conical tubercles except in the (inter-radial) area between the bases of the arms which has a sunken groove. There are tiny arm spines on the ventro-lateral surface that start before the first arm branch. There are transverse series of small "girdle" hooks on the upper side of the arms. Colour usually pale grey to dark brown, sometimes with dark red-black spots or bands across the arms. Disc up to 6 cm wide, arm up to 15 cm long.
Biology
This species is the only shallow water basket-star (branched brittle-star) in Victoria. It extends some of its branched arms like a net into a current to feed on small plankton. The "girdle" hooks on the arms can be used to store food.
Distribution
Southern Australia.
Habitat
Occurs on sea-whips, gorgonians and sponges, from subtidal depths to the upper continental slope (10-450 m).
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Branched arms, conical tubercles on disc, girdle hooks around arms.
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Maximum Size
6 cm
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Habitats
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Diet
Plankton or Particles
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
DSE Advisory List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Not listed
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Depths
Shallow (1-30 m), Deep ( > 30 m)
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Water Column Locations
On or near seafloor
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
(Verrill, 1876)
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Common Name
Basket Star
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Subclass
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Superorder
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Order
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
australis