Leiaster leachii
Leach's Seastar
©Anne: Leiaster speciosus, found in the lagoon entrance channel in less than 2 metres depth, under a large slab of coral rubble. It is now in the collection of the Western Australian Museum.
©Anne: Leiaster speciosus at Lizard Island at night, as found exposed on sand in 3 m depth close to reef. Maximum radius is about 18 cm.
©Anne: Upper surface of specimen above.
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Echinodermata
Class
Asteroidea
Order
Valvatida
Family
Ophidiasteridae
Genus
Leiaster
Species
Leiaster leachii
Colours
Distinguishing features
Thick, smooth skin all over gives this large starfish a slippery feel. The deep burgundy colour and pointed arm tips of Leiaster speciosus distinguish it from the closely-related Leiaster leachi, which has not been recorded from Lizard Island.
This species in not often seen at Lizard Island. It is cryptic during the day and is active at night.
Size
- Size data has not been obtained.
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Clark, A.M. and F.W.E. Rowe (1971). Monograph of shallow-water Indo-west Pacific echinoderms British Museum (Natural History), London.
- Coleman, N. (2007). Sea Stars: Echinoderms of the Asia/Indo-Pacific Neville Coleman's Underwater Geographic, Springwood, Qld. Australia.
- Marsh and J. Fromont, L.M. (2020). Field Guide to shallow water seastars of Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth.