''Plectaster decanus'', the mosaic sea star, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of sea star found off the south coast of Australia. It is the only species in the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

''Plectaster''.

Description

This five-armed starfish is distinguished by its very bright colors. A group of raised yellow ridges covers its red upper surface and it is soft in texture. ''Plectaster decanus'' is one of the few poisonous sea stars, and can cause numbness in humans if it is carried for any length of time.

Distribution and habitat

''Plectaster decanus'' lives in rocky reefs off the southern coast of Australia. It lives at a depth of .

Food

''Plectaster decanus'' primarily feeds on

sponge Sponges, the members of the phylum Porifera (; meaning 'pore bearer'), are a basal animal clade as a sister of the diploblasts. They are multicellular organisms that have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate through t ...

References

Echinasteridae Asteroidea genera Monotypic echinoderm genera {{Asteroidea-stub