Northern Pacific seastar

Already found in Tasmania and Victoria, this pest seastar can carpet the sea floor in estuaries, bays and rock pools. Unlike some native seastars, this one has pointed, often upturned tips on its five arms. It is yellow/orange with purple markings and yellow underneath. This greedy predator eats many native animals and affects commercial shellfish farms. It also breeds quickly with females capable of producing up to 20 million eggs per year!