Even though they can be brightly coloured, sea stars are hard to see. They spend a lot of time hidden under rocks and in crevices.
Common name: Carpet Star
Scientific name: Patiriella calcar
Photo: Dr I. Bennett
See what you can find out about how sea stars use camouflage.
Rock pools and rock platforms
Carpet Star
These sea stars are star shaped. They have eight arms. They are brightly coloured with red, orange, brown, green or blue on top. The Carpet Star can grow to 5 cm wide.
Carpet Stars are brightly coloured and like to eat sea urchins.
Sea stars live on rocky shores of eastern and southern Australia. They can be found in rock pools.
Sea stars eat algae, mussels, and small pieces of dead plants and animals.
Sea stars are grazers that eat plants. Their mouth is on the underside of their body.
They use their powerful jaws and teeth to scrap food off rocks.
Other sea stars and fish eat the Carpet Star.
Copyright © Australian Museum, 2003
