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Story: Starfish, sea urchins and other echinoderms

Seven-armed starfish

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Seven-armed starfish

Seven-armed starfish are the giants of New Zealand’s starfish, growing up to 75 centimetres in diameter. Usually found below low-tide level, they are carnivores and eat sea snails, pāua (abalone) and chitons. This specimen is devouring a sea urchin, or kina.

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Kim Westerskov

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Starfish, sea urchins and other echinoderms – Spiny-skinned animals, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/5191/seven-armed-starfish (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 2 March 2009.