Protoreaster nodosus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular names
English : Chocolate chip sea star
French : Étoile de mer à cornes

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

Identification
Very large and robust sea star with body thickened near the center (dome-shaped), reaching up to 40 cm in diameter. Five arms short, robust, with blunt ends. Coloration brown with large round black tubercles forming rows on arms.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the western Pacific area, from Malaysia to Micronesia, north to south Japan, south to North Australia and New Caledonia. Lives in shallow lagoons, mostly in sea grass beds and on sandy bottoms, to 30 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species’ status isn’t assessed by IUCN so far. The species is said to be abundant when food resources are plentiful but local declines observed.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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