Blue sea star
Linckia laevigata
Granulated Sea Star
Choriaster granulatus
About
The granulated sea star is a large, plump reef sea star with a rounded, cushion-like shape, often noticed lying out in the open on sand or rubble.
Also known as: grainy cushion star, granulated star
- Depth
- up to 40 m
How to tell it apart
This species is often confused with other plump, short-armed cushion stars. The colour and papillae pattern described above set it apart - true cushion stars are more evenly bumpy all over, without this radiating pattern.
Appearance
This sea star has a rounded, domed body and five short arms with rounded tips, giving it a chunky, cushion-like look. It is most often pale pink with brown wart-like bumps, called papillae, spreading out from the centre, though colour can vary from grey to yellow or even red.
Habitat
The granulated sea star lives on coral reefs down to about 40 m, alone or in small groups. It favours sandy rubble slopes and patches of detritus, and is also found lying among corals and sponges, usually out in the open rather than hidden.
Diet
This sea star is a carnivore. Like other sea stars, its mouth sits on the underside of its body, and it pushes its stomach out through its mouth onto its food to digest it outside its own body. It feeds on coral polyps and other small invertebrates, as well as carrion, the remains of dead animals.
Did you know?
This sea star is the only species in its whole genus, but it has picked up several nicknames along the way - including the doughboy starfish, the hunter-five sea star and the big-plated sea star.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
