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The Patterned Seastar (Plectaster decanus) is a very colourful seastar species that belongs to the family Echinasteridae. Species from the Echinasteridae family are known to have a small disc with five long arms that are almost round through the cross section and they also have numerous spinelets on the plates. The Patterned Seastar can be found in the cooler waters of southern Australia from Byron Bay in New South Wales to the central coast of Western Australia. It is also found in the waters of northern Tasmania. It is found on rocky coastal reefs from shallow waters to depths of 200 metres. This species has a series of ridges that form an intrinsic mosaic pattern across the top of the surface. This species can vary greatly in colour from red, pink, orange, yellow and purple. It has a maximum arm width of approximately 25 cm.
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