It is a large 11-armed starfish and occurs in shallow waters in the temperate western Indo-Pacific region.

[1] C. muricata is the largest starfish in southern Australia and can reach a diameter of 50 cm (20 in).

[2] It is common around southern Australia and New Zealand where it is found on rocks, under boulders and in sandy habitats to depths of about 150 m (500 ft).

[4] In sheltered baylets in Australia, the tunicate Pyura stolonifera can dominate the shallow seabed to the exclusion of other sessile organisms.

The larvae are planktonic, and when sufficiently developed, settle onto the seabed in coralline algae habitats.