Honeycomb sea star
Pentaceraster alveolatus
Up to 25 cm. Robust body raised in center with evenly tapering arms. Spines line margins of arms. Color variable from blue and violet to red, gray and tan. Conical spines can be scattered or in rows.
Occurs in sandy-rocky intertidal regions and on reef platform at depths of 1 to 60 m. In shallow waters with seagrasses and macroalgae. Feeds on carrion. Members of the class Asteroidea exhibit both 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.
Members of the class Asteroidea exhibit both 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.
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: from the Philippines to Australia and the Melanesia.
Occurs in sandy-rocky intertidal regions and on reef platform at depths of 1 to 60 m. In shallow waters with seagrasses and macroalgae. Feeds on carrion. Members of the class Asteroidea exhibit both 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.
Members of the class Asteroidea exhibit both 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.
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: from the Philippines to Australia and the Melanesia.
