Asterodiscides truncatus

Scientific name: Asterodiscides truncatus
  • Author(s)
    Ray Corcoran
  • Updated
    06/09/24
  • Read time
    2 minutes
J24600 Asterodiscides truncatus Click to enlarge image
J24600 Asterodiscides truncatus Image: Stephen Keeble
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Asterodiscides
    Species
    truncatus

Identification:

The domed, pincushion-like shape, rounded tubercles on the aboral surface, large body size, and purple and orange colouration are distinctive.

Size range:

Width 100 mm.

Distribution:

Inshore, continental shelf and slope of temperate areas of Australia from Solitary Is., NSW, to off Eucla, Great Australian Bight WA, and Tasmania. Depth range 14-804 m.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

Australian Museum registration database records for the Sydney region:

east of Broken Bay; 3.2 kms offshore between Long Reef & Dee Why; 40 kms east of Manly; east of Port Jackson; 4-6.4 km east of Botany Bay. Depth range 0 (possibly washed up after a storm)-804 m.

Habitat:

Reef, silt.

Taxonomic information - synonyms and type material:

Asterodiscus truncatus Coleman, 1911: 699, figs 123-125, pl.83.
Type data: syntypes AM J1053, AM J2047.
Type locality: off Botany Bay, NSW, and off east coast of VIC, (St Francis Is., SA, specimen apparently lost), east coast of VIC.

Remarks:

Readily found at ‘Jolong Reef’ approximately 700m north east of Cape Banks at ~20m depth, November 2008.

Links for further information:

Additional references:

Clark (1946); Rowe (1977); Rowe (1985); Edgar (1997).