Astropecten polyacanthus Müller & Troschel, 1842
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.
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
Distribution:
Northern North Island to East Cape, NZ and Kermadec Islands. Also widespread in other areas of the Pacific
Notes:
Marine, 5 straight arms, edged with sharp pointed spines. Intertidal to sublittoral