Eight-armed Seastar (species: Meridiastra calcar) in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Echinodermata > Asterozoa > Asteroidea > Valvatacea > Valvatida > Asterinidae > Meridiastra > Meridiastra calcar (gallery)
Meridiastra calcar
Eight-armed Seastar


©Nuytsia@Tas: Eight-armed Seastar (Meridiastra calcar)

©John Turnbull: Eight-armed Seastar (Meridiastra calcar)

©eyeweed: Eight-armed Seastar (Meridiastra calcar)

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Echinodermata
Class Asteroidea
Order Valvatida
Family Asterinidae
Genus Meridiastra
Species Meridiastra calcar
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Colours

                             

Distinguishing features

They usually have 8 arms but can have between 7 and 9 arms.

Size

  • Up to 9 cm (Width from arm tip to opposing arm tip)

Depth range

  • From 0 m to 30 m

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Rocky reefs, seagrass meadows and tidal pools, to depth of 10 m. (ALA)

Diet

They are scavenging omnivores, feeding on seaweed, dead fish, and live bivalves, among other things. (ALA)

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