Anthenea aspera

(Döderlein, 1915)

Vernacular names
English : Cake sea star
French : Etoile de mer gateau

Classification
Class : Asteroidea
Order : Valvatida
Family : Oreasteridae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can grow to an armspan of nearly 20 cm. Upperside often slightly convex. Rows of marginal plates found on the edges of the arms. Coloration variable, from brown-beige to red, orange, green or yellow, often with clear arm tips.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area, patchily, from south Japan and south China to Singapore, Indonesia and North Australia. Lives in seagrass meadows and coral reefs or coral rubble, down to 18 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species’ status has yet to be assessed. It has a large range but isn’t considered common globally. It isn’t known to face any threats though.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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