It is native to eastern and southern Australia, the Norfolk Ridge and the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand.

The starfish has plates on its aboral (upper) surface arranged in a reticulate fashion with brightly coloured tubercles scattered between them.

The tubercles vary in size and colour, making a red, purple and orange pattern on the aboral surface.

[3] Endemic to Australia, A. truncatus occurs on the south and east coasts, on the western end of the Norfolk Ridge and the Kermadec Islands.

[2] It has been observed releasing gametes into the water column by standing on the tips of its arms to raise its body off the sea floor.