Local Distribution and Habitats
Rhabdastrella globostellata is widely along the northern east to west coasts of Australia, throughout the Great Barrier Reef and neighbouring coastlines. Habitat ranges from intertidal to 53m in depth, found on rocky to sandy substrate (Kennedy, 2000; Uriz, 2002; van Soest, 2011a,b). Habitat ranges through coral reefs, rocky outcrops, broken reefs, reef flats, drop-offs and overhangs (Kennedy, 2000). Specimens have been recovered from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Torres Strait, Philippines, Palau, Tonga, Vanuatu, Africa, N Western Australia, Northern Territory Australia, Queensland/Great Barrier Reef Australia, N New South Wales Australia.
Figure: Distribution of Rhabdastrella globostellata on Australian shores (from Hooper & Ekins, 2004). Numbers indicate sample ID and colours correspond to the sites they were taken, with specimens stored at the Museum of Queensland. Red circles indicate areas where R. globostellata has been found.
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