Protoreaster nodulosus in situ (Photo: Clay Bryce)

knobbly seastar

Protoreaster nodulosus

Distinctive seastar with raised tubercles on carinal plates, may be single or multiple colours

Morphology

Seastar with apical large, rounded, tubercles,colour variable, olive green, white, pink, mauve, purple, brown, violet, or various combinations

Behaviour

Benthic

Habitat

Marine

On sand flats, algae, seagrass, rocks and sponges, 0-64 metres depth. Occurs on the coast, inner shelf and nearshore islands, not found on offshore reefs.

Distribution

North Western Australian endemic (not to be confused with P. nodosus (Linneaus, 1758))

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Subphylum: Asterozoa
Class: Asteroidea
Superorder: Valvatacea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Oreasteridae
Genus: Protoreaster
Species: nodulosus
Name Published Year: 1875
Scientific Name Authorship: Perrier
Commercial Impact: 

None

Conservation Assessment: Least Concern

Net Conservation Benefits Fund

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Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/names/Protoreaster-nodulosus
Accessed 30 Aug 2023

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