About Pentagonaster pulchellus Gray, 1840
Commonly called the biscuit star, Pentagonaster pulchellus Gray, 1840 has a dorsal surface studded with hard, smooth plates. These plates grow larger along the margins and at the tips of its five arms, forming convex, oval-shaped shields. It is one of the most colorful sea stars found in New Zealand, and individuals may be red, orange, brown, or silvery purple. Its ventral side has a patterned mesh of white over light grey, and its tube feet are yellow. This species is commonly found in seaweed beds, and on rocky and muddy bottoms, ranging from the low intertidal zone down to 300 meters depth.
