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The Southern Sand Star (Luidia australiae) is a temperate/sub tropical species that is found in Australian waters from Moreton Bay in Queensland around the south to the coastal waters of the central Western Australia coast. This species belongs to the Luidiidae family which has 50 large species in the single Luidia genus. It is generally found in coastal estuaries that have sandy/silty/muddy bottoms and is also found in amongst shallow water seagrass meadows. It spends the majority of its time buried beneath the substrate where it hides from the predators and light. This species is a predator that feeds on bivalves, heart urchins and other echinoderms. This species can be recognised by its seven arms and a mottled pale green and grey surface, which generally has dark brown markings. The Southern Sand Star (Luidia australiae) can be found the low tide mark to 100 metres and has a maximum arm radius of approximately 20cm.
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