Astropecten vappa

Scientific name: Astropecten vappa
  • Author(s)
    Jen Cork
  • Updated
    06/09/24
  • Read time
    2 minutes
J7556 Astropcepten vappa Click to enlarge image
J7556 Astropcepten vappa Image: Stephen Keeble
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Astropecten
    Species
    vappa
  • Size Range
    Width 125mm

Identification:

Flattened with five relatively straight sided arms tapering to acute points giving a distinct star shape. The arms are fringed with a comb-like array of sharp spines along the length of their margin. Superomarginal plates width greater than length, all with one to two conspicuous spines and a series of spines diminishing in size from top to bottom below. Fawn to reddish or dark brown on the aboral surface and cream below.

Distribution:

Inshore and continental shelf areas from the Gulf of Carpentaria, south to Tasmania and west to the central west coast of WA; east Indo-west Pacific Ocean. Depth range 0-128 m.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Australian Museum registration database records for the Sydney region:

Pittwater; Port Jackson (Camp Cove); 4-5.5 km off Port Jackson; Botany Bay (Brighton-Le-Sands); off Cronulla; Port Hacking (Simpsons Beach; The Entrance). Depth range 10-71 m.

Habitat:

Sand, silty sediment.

Taxonomic information - synonyms and type material:

Astropecten vappa Müller & Troschel, 1843: 119.
Type data: holotype ZMB 801.
Type locality: southwestern Australia.

Astropecten hartmeyeri Döderlein, 1917: 54, 156, pls 5(8), 14(6-6c).
Type data: syntypes whereabouts unknown.
Type locality: Freycinet Reach, Shark Bay, WA.

J7556 Astropcepten vappa

Astropecten vappa

Image: Stephen Keeble
© Australian Museum

Links for further information:

Additional references:

Clark (1946); Clark & Rowe (1971); Edgar (1997).