Animalia > Echinodermata > Asteroidea > Forcipulatida > Asteriidae > Asterias > Asterias amurensis| | Asterias amurensis (Flatbottom seastar; Japanese Seastar; Japanese Starfish; North Pacific seastar; Northern Pacific seastar; Purple-orange seastar) | |
Synonyms: Allasterias migrata; Asterias acervispinis; Asterias flabellifera; Asterias gracilispinis; Asterias latissima; Asterias pectinata; Asterias rubens; Asterias rubens migratum; Parasterias albertensis Asterias amurensis, commonly called the northern Pacific starfish, is an invasive species in Australia, and native to the coasts of northern China, North Korea, South Korea, Russia and Japan. Distribution of this species into other countries has increased. Based on the distribution of northern Pacific seastar populations in shipping ports and routes, the most likely mechanism of introduction is the transport of free-swimming larvae in ballast water for ships. |
Originally found in far north Pacific waters and areas surrounding Japan, Russia, North China, and Korea, the northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis) has successfully invaded the southern coasts of Australia and has the potential to move as far north as Sydney. The seastar will eat a wide range of prey and has the potential for ecological and economic harm in its introduced range. Because the seastar is well established and abundantly widespread, eradication is almost impossible. However, prevention and control measures are being implemented to stop the species from establishing in new waters. |
Aleutian Islands; Alaska; Japan; South Australia (state); Species recognized by Mah C., 2008-12-29 08:51:57, WoRMS Asteroidea: World Asteroidea database in  |
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