8 arms, (often 4 larger and 4 smaller), bluish-grey, or buff.

Low intertidal on or under rocks.

A predator of shellfish. It engulfs it's prey and pulls the shells open with its tube feet, then everts one of its stomachs (sea stars have 2!) into the prey and digests its meal.

Photo Credit: Rod Morris. Photos available from www.rodmorris.co.nz
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=291590 (accessed 07/12/10)
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Bio07Tuat03-t1-body-d5.html accessed 12/02/14)
Mah, C.L., D.G. McKnight, M.K. Eagle, D.L. Pawson, N. Ameziane, D.J. Vance, A.N. Baker, H.E.S. Clark, and N. Alcock. 2009. Phylum Echinodermata. In Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) The New Zealand Inventory of Biodiversity. Volume 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. Canterbury University Press, Christchurch; 371-400.