Large sea star, with five conical, short, thick arms.
Colour varies from place to place.
Has not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List.
Indo-West Pacific: from east Africa to Japan and New Caledonia.
Occurs on sand, rubble, corals and sponges at depths of 0 to 30 m.
Asexual (regeneration and clonal) and sexual (gonochoric) means of reproduction.
Life cycle: Embryos hatch into planktonic larvae and later metamorphose into pentamorous juveniles which develop into young sea stars with stubby arms.
Length around 30cm.
Grazes on organic surface of rocky and sandy substrates. Feeds on small sessile invertebrates.
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