Stats

Lifespan: 10-15 yrs
Size: Medium
Diet: Omnivore
Activity: Cathemeral
Social: Solitary
Biome: Coral reef
Range: Indo-Pacific
Movement: Walking
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Armor
Status: Uncommon

About

This sea star inhabits shallow sandy flats across the tropical Indo-Pacific. It pushes its stomach out through its mouth to digest prey directly on the seafloor.

Life cycle

1.
juvenile
A juvenile star settles onto the seafloor after its larval phase and begins crawling and feeding.
2.
adult
Fully grown, with adult arm count and pattern.

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Echinodermata
Class: Asteroidea
Order: Valvatida
Family: Oreasteridae
Genus: Protoreaster