Common Name: Many-pored Seastar

Distribution: Uncommon in the Solitary Islands Marine Park, which is possibly the limit of its northern range on the east coast. Known from southern Queensland south around the east coast of Australia to the Houtmann Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia, and including around Tasmania.

Ecological Notes: Frequents exposed inshore and offshore rocky reef systems from 5 m to at least 180 m depth (indicated by trawled specimens). Feeds on sedentary sponges, ascidians, alga and bryozoans.

Additional Notes: Colour may vary from orange to red, usually has 5 arms (rarely six, see bottom photograph), flecked with black papulae. Very common in Southern Australian reefs where there is high wave exposure. Grows to at least 20 cm across the arms.

References: Graham J. Edgar. Australian Marine Life, 2nd Edition, 2008. Reed New Holland Publishers. p.394.

Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=Fromia+polypora. Accessed 10/10/2018.