Common Name: Eastern Snake Star

Distribution: Common in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Known from Australia and New Zealand and south west Pacific Ocean.

Ecological Notes: Found entwined in the branches of the host black coral trees to a depth of at least 540 m.

Additional Notes: Feeds on the polyps of the black coral and lives entwined in the black coral tree branches. Moves only during the hours of darkness. Fertilization is external and brooding is common where bursae are used as brood chambers. The embyros develop into juveniles and crawl out from the bursal slits. Disc diameter to 15 mm and arm length to 150 mm.

References: Graham J. Edgar. Australian Marine Life, 2nd Edition, 2008. Reed New Holland Publishers. p.407.

Palomares, M.L.D. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. SeaLifeBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.sealifebase.org, version (06/2018). http://www.sealifebase.org/summary/Astrobrachion-constrictum.html. Accessed 10/10/2018.