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Taxonomy
Phylum: Echinodermata
This is not a Mollusc. Other non-Molluscan Phyla (Echinodermata, Brachiopoda etc) have been included to help identify species that may be mistaken for Mollusca, but are not.
Family:
ASTROPECTINIDAE
Full Classification:
Echinodermata (Phylum)
> Asterozoa (Subphylum)
> Asteroidea (Class)
> Valvatacea (Superorder)
> Paxillosida (Order)
> Astropectinidae (Family)
> Astropecten (Genus)
> polyacanthus (Species)
Genus Synonyms:
=Lophidiaster Spencer, 1914
=Stellaria Nardo, 1834
Images: Astropecten polyacanthus Müller & Troschel, 1842
Whale Bay, Matapouri, Northland, NZ. inaturalist.nz ©predomalpha
Whangaparaoa Peninsula, Auckland, NZ. inaturalist.nz ©predomalpha
Taxonomy
Phylum: Echinodermata
This is not a Mollusc. Other non-Molluscan Phyla (Echinodermata, Brachiopoda etc) have been included to help identify species that may be mistaken for Mollusca, but are not.
Family:
ASTROPECTINIDAE
Full Classification:
Echinodermata (Phylum)
> Asterozoa (Subphylum)
> Asteroidea (Class)
> Valvatacea (Superorder)
> Paxillosida (Order)
> Astropectinidae (Family)
> Astropecten (Genus)
> polyacanthus (Species)
Genus Synonyms:
=Lophidiaster Spencer, 1914
=Stellaria Nardo, 1834
Details: Astropecten polyacanthus Müller & Troschel, 1842
Distribution:
Northern North Island to East Cape, NZ and Kermadec Islands. Also widespread in other areas of the Pacific
Geographical Range:
KA
Notes:
Marine, 5 straight arms, edged with sharp pointed spines. Intertidal to sublittoral
Distribution Map
 
References and Publications
  • Mills, S., Neill, K., Anderson, O., Davey, N. 2017 Extraordinary Echinoderms. A guide to the echinoderms of New Zealand. Version 2, Niwa Guides (p.22)

Key to Geographical Ranges
NZ Map showing Geographical Ranges
The symbols K.A.C.F.M.An. are used to indicate the geographical range of the species. They have been adopted to give an approximation of the range of each species within New Zealand.
K=
Kermadec Islands
A=
Aupourian - Kaipara Harbour, north around North Cape, encompassing the Three Kings Islands and south to East Cape
C=
Cookian - Lower North Island and the northern part of the South Island
F=
Forsterian - Otago, Fiordland and Stewart Island
M=
Moriorian - Chatham Islands, Pitt Island
An=
Antipodean - Subantarctic Islands of New Zealand
Fw =
Freshwater
L =
Land
N =
North Island
S =
South Island
E =
Endemic
I =
Introduced
R =
Recent
Sf =
Subfossil
Fo =
Fossil