Common Biscuit Star

Tosia australis

Tosia australis - Common Biscuit Star
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Size: 10 cm

Distribution: All SA coastal and gulf waters

Habitat: Rocky areas and reef

Depth: Lower intertidal to 10+ metres

Tosia australis - Common Biscuit Star
Tosia australis - Common Biscuit Star
Tosia australis - Common Biscuit Star
Tosia australis - Common Biscuit Star
Tosia australis - Common Biscuit Star
Tosia australis - Common Biscuit Star

This small sea star is commonly found on rocks and jetty pylons. It has 5 short arms (or occasionally 4), and often has a colourful starbust pattern. However, it can also be plainly coloured. There are a number of similar species. One of these, the dual-colour Tosia neossia, is only found east of the Coorong and is difficult to distinguish without experience. The others include Tosia magnifica, which unlike T. australis, has more than 6 marginal plates between a pair of arms, and Pentagonaster duebeni, which has longer arms, is only ever one colour (yellowish-orange to red), and has more numerous and rounded marginal plates.