Comb Sea Star

Appearance

Gray to tan or golden with reddish banding and occasionally mottling. Long, primarily white spines line five flat triangular arms. Size to 13 cm (5 in.).

Naming

Synonyms:
Astropecten javanicus var. malaccanus Bedford, 1900
Astropecten malaccanus Beford, 1900 (synonym according to Doderlein (1917))
Astropecten penangensis deLoriol, 1899 (synonym)

Distribution

Indo-Pacific.

Status

Not Evaluated.

Behavior

Nocturnal, bury during the day.

Habitat

Inhabits the upper level of sand and mud in protected lagoons and feeds only at night.

Reproduction

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