Culcita novaeguineae (Culcita novaeguineae)

Identification

Large, bulky and puffed up cushion star with a pentagonal shape and 5 almost absent arms. Its color can be very variable from red to green and brown.

Status

Unassessed by the IUCN Red list, but this species is the most common in the (Indo-)Pacific out of the three species present.

Habitat

It can be found throughout the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific, and prefers shallow, barrier- and fringing reefs, in a depth range of 0-90 meters.

Reproduction

Size

Up to 25cm.

Prey / Predation

It feeds on coral polyps (know to prey on Acropora sp. and Pocillopora sp.) and algae

Special features

The shrimp Periclimenes sorrier can often be found on this starfish when you examine it closely.