Luidia australiae

Luidia australiae, the southern sand star, is a species of starfish in the family Luidiidae. It is found in the Pacific Ocean around Australia and New Zealand.

Description

Luidia australiae has a variable number of long, slim, tapering arms but seven is the most common number. The central disc and the arms are a dull yellow colour, irregularly blotched with dark green or black. It can grow to in diameter.

Distribution and habitat

Luidia australiae is native to the waters around southern Australia and New Zealand. It is found on reefs, in seagrass meadows, and semi-buried in sand at depths of up to. It is sometimes washed ashore after storms.

Biology

Luidia australiae is a carnivore and is often found half-buried in the sediment in seagrass beds where its colouring provides camouflage. It is likely to be an opportunist predator of macrofauna, and possibly also a scavenger.