Astropecten vappa

Scientific name: Astropecten vappa

Author(s)

Jen Cork
Updated

18/12/20
Read time

2 minutes

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.

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.