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Archaster typicus Müller & Troschel, 1840
| Family Name: | Archasteridae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Invertebrates (Echinoderm) |
| Common Name: | Common Sandstar |
Name
Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | Occurs in sandy bays and lagoons from the low tide mark to the half tide level. Known from beaches in the Johor Straits and the lagoonal sands of the reclaimed patch reefs that now form part of Pulau Hantu. Individuals emerge at dusk and during spawning females and slightly smaller males pair up, possibly to enhance the chances of successful fertilisation of the liberated eggs and sperm. |
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| Habitats | Marine, Sandy Shore |
| Distribution | Formerly common at Punggol (central Johore Straits). Now known to occur in significant numbers only at Pulau Hantu lagoon and the sandy intertidal zone at Pulau Ubin (Chek Jawa). Widely distributed in the Indo-west Pacific. |
| Nature Areas | Pulau Hantu, Pulau Ubin |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | Further reclamation of sandy foreshores and adjacent subtidal areas. Reclamation of land from the sea has certainly obliterated some habitats but has also created new ones where artificial recreational beaches have been formed. The pairing behaviour at spawning suggests that successful reproduction and recruitment require high population densities Reduction of adult numbers below a critical level may result in the inability of the species to sustain itself locally. One factor possibly contributing to the local decline of this species may have been intensive collecting over successive years for practical classes in invertebrate zoology. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | The form found in Singapore is larger than other examples elsewhere in the west Pacific and it may be a distinct variety or sub-species. As a formerly abundant predator, its decline may have effects on the ecological stability of infaunal prey populations. |
| Conservation Notes | A species which has declined markedly but which can still be found in significant numbers at Pulau Hantu and Chek Jawa. |
Status
| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Vulnerable (VU) [2008] |
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Photos
References
| References | Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp |
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