Luidia australiae Döderlein, 1920

Scientific name: Luidia australiae
  • Author(s)
    Jen Cork
  • Updated
    18/12/20
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Luidia australiae - (J.24708) aboral surface Click to enlarge image
Luidia australiae - (J.24708) aboral surface Image: R.Springthorpe
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Luidia
    Species
    australiae
  • Size Range
    Width to 400 mm

Identification:

One of the largest species in the Sydney region, characterised by seven flexible arms that may reach 200 mm in length, tapering to a point, and that are fringed by small, fine spines. Small, granular, square or polygonal plates cover the aboral surface which ranges from pale to dark colours and may be mottled, including yellow, grey, green and black.Tube feet ending in a rounded knob rather than a sucker

Distribution:

Temperate inshore and continental shelf areas from Moreton Bay, Qld, south to Tasmania and west to Dongara, WA; Lord Howe Island. Depth range 0-110 m.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Australian Museum registration database records for the Sydney region:

20-30.5 kms off Long Reef; Port Hacking (Gunnamatta Bay). Depth range 146 m.

Habitat:

Sheltered areas including seagrass, sand, silt. May bury in sediment.

Taxonomic information - synonyms and type material:

Luidia australiae Döderlein,1920: 266.
Type data: holotype (whereabouts undetermined).
Type locality: Cockburn Sound, WA.

Links for further information:

Atlas of Living Australia

World Register of Marine Species

Additional references:

Clark (1946); Edgar (1997).