Sydney Sea Star
Anthenea sidneyensis
Also known as: Asteroids, Starfish
- Asteroids
- Starfish
Overview
Found singly or in constellations, over algal rubble and sandy areas, over shallow to deep rocky reefs. Has five conical, short, thick arms. Varies in colour.
Australia - NSW
Sea Stars have remarkable regenerative powers, when attacked and damaged by predators they are able to grow new arms. They usually have five arms but have been found with 4 or 6 arms, this may be because more than one arm has been damaged at one time!
Sometimes small parasitic limpets can be found on the underside of arms which can deform the arms.
They possess a cleverly evolved arsenal of hydraulic tube feet connected to an elaborate water-vascular system that encircles the animal's mouth and extends via five radial canals down the centre of each arm.
Their mouth is underneath, but their prey is absorbed outside their mouths by forcing out their digestive organs from their stomach.
Sea Stars are carnivores and feed on almost any food including molluscs, worms, detritus and each other!
Some sea stars like the crown of thorns can be venomous.
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Exact location · 1
Found singly or in constellations, over algal rubble and sandy areas, over shallow to deep rocky reefs.
Adult photos 1
Discussion
No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.
Deep dive
Taxonomy
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumEchinodermata
- classAsteroidea
- orderValvatida
- familyOreasteridae
- genusAnthenea
- speciesAnthenea sidneyensis Doderlein, 1915
SourcesWoRMS
More in the family
Sea Stars (Oreasteridae)

Chocolate Chip Star
Nidorellia armata
1 photo

Cushion Sea Star
Culcita novaeguineae
33 photos

Granulated Sea Star
Choriaster granulatus
15 photos

Honeycomb Sea Star
Pentaceraster alveolatus
16 photos

Horned Sea Star
Protoreaster nodosus
5 photos

Panamic Cushion Star
Pentaceraster cumingi
2 photos

Red Cushion Sea Star
Oreaster reticulatus
4 photos

Red-knobbed Sea Star
Protoreaster lincki
3 photos

Schmedelian Pincushion Sea Star
Culcita schmedeliana
3 photos