Biscuit star facts for kids
Pentagonaster pulchellus, also known as the biscuit star or sometimes the jewelled star, is a really cool type of starfish. It gets its name "biscuit star" because of its shape and often smooth, rounded plates. This amazing sea creature lives only in New Zealand. You can find it commonly in the Cook Strait and all around the coasts of the South Island. It has also been seen near the Chatham Islands and down to the Snares Islands in the Campbell Plateau.
Quick facts for kids Biscuit star |
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| Pentagonaster pulchellus | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Goniasteridae
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| Subfamily: |
Pentagonasterinae
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| Genus: |
Pentagonaster
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| Species: |
Pentagonaster pulchellus
Gray, 1840
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What Does the Biscuit Star Look Like?
The biscuit star is one of the most colorful sea stars you can find in New Zealand! Its top side, called the dorsal surface, is covered with hard, smooth plates. These plates get bigger along the edges and at the ends of its five arms. They look like rounded, oval-shaped shields. You might see these stars in bright red, orange, brown, or even a shiny silvery-purple color.
Its Underside and Feet
If you flip a biscuit star over, you'll see its bottom side, called the ventral side. This part has a cool pattern of white over light grey. It also has yellow tube feet. These tube feet are like tiny suction cups that help the starfish move around and hold onto things.
Where Does the Biscuit Star Live?
The biscuit star, Pentagonaster pulchellus, likes to live in different underwater places. You can often find it in areas with lots of seaweed. It also lives on rocky bottoms and even in muddy areas. These stars can be found in shallow waters, from where the tide goes out (low intertidal zone) all the way down to depths of about 300 meters (that's about 984 feet!).
