Distribution: Common throughout the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Endemic to Australia and recorded from Swain Reefs on the Great Barrier Reef, south to South Australia and including Tasmania and Lord Howe Island.

Ecological Notes: Frequents rocky reef, often under stones, to a depth of 30 m.

Additional Notes: Flattened with six indistinct short arms. Various colour forms, all with a combination of green, blue, brown red and cream. Feeds on sponges and detritus. Grows to a maximum size of 80 mm across.

References: Neville Coleman, Sea Stars. Echinoderms of the Asia/Indo-Pacific. Neville Coleman’s Underwater Geographic Pty Ltd, 2007. p.18.

Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=meridiastra+oriens. Accessed 11/10/2018.