Choriaster granulatus

Choriaster granulatus
Choriaster granulatus in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Oreasteridae
Genus: Choriaster
Lütken, 1869 [1]
Species: C. granulatus
Binomial name
Choriaster granulatus
Lütken, 1869

Choriaster granulatus, commonly known as the granulated sea star, cushion seastar,[2]and doughboy star,[3] is a species of starfish.[4] It is the only species in the genus Choriaster.[1]

Description

Choriaster granulatus is a large seastar, and is easily identified by its five distinctive large, short, thick conical arms. [2] It is usually pale pink in colour, has small, brown papillae in clusters located in the central part of its body. [2] This species grows to a maximum radius of approximately 27 cm.[3]

Location

This species is found in numerous tropical waters, including:[3]

Habitat

Choriaster granulatus in Madagascar
Choriaster granulatus

Choriaster granulatus lives in shallow waters at depths of up to 40 metres,[5] and is found on rubble slopes, coral reefs,[3] in the reef front, back reef, the external reef, and frequently in locations with rubble and detritus.[2]

Behaviour and diet

This starfish feed on algae, detritus, and dead animals.[2] One of its predators is the sea snail Triton's trumpet (Charonia tritonis).[3] It also eats various small invertebrates and coral polyps.[5]

References

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