Beaded starfishPentaceraster mammillatus

Category
  • Seagrass
Tags
  • Starfish
  • Fauna
  • seagrass

Description

Pentaceraster mammillatus is a sea star from the Oreasteridae family. It has long, thick arms with triangular cross sections. There are white rounded projections all over the body, in the form of knobs[1]. Hence, it is also called Knobbed Sea Star[2].

 

[1] ‘Pentaceraster Sea Star (Pentaceraster Mammillatus) on the Shores of Singapore’.

[2] ‘Multicolored Knobbed Sea Star (Pentaceraster Mammillatus) · INaturalist.Org’.

Habitat and ecology

This species is present across the Indian Ocean. It is found on soft substratum, coral reefs and in sea grass meadows. Its diet consists of small organisms and dead matter.

 

Conservation and management

The conservation status of this species has not been evaluated[1].

 

[1] ‘Pentaceraster Mammillatus’.

Did you know?

The arms can reach a diameter of 15cm.

Other Ecosystems