General Description
Body grey to cream with wide blue to dark purple stripes around the arms. Many spines on the arms, some with swollen rounded tips. Spines on top of the disc. Disc up to 3 cm wide, arm up to 15 cm long.
Biology
This species often shelters in holdfasts at the bottom of kelp fronds. Most of its relatives are tropical species. It feeds by holding its arms up into the water to catch particles or sweeping them along the seafloor.
Distribution
Southern Australian coast.
Habitat
Rocky reef and areas with kelp, to depth of 185 m.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Dark stripes around arms, arm spines with swollen tips, spines on top of disc.
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Colours
Grey, White, Blue
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Habitats
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Diet
Omnivore
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Endemicity
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Commercial
No
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Not listed, DSE Advisory List: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Not listed
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Depths
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
(Stimpson, 1855)
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Common Name
Brittle Star
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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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Suborder
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Superfamily
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
spongicola