English Common Name

Cusion Star

Scientific name

Culcita novaeguineae

Taxonomy

Order: Valvatida, Family: Oreasteridae

Size

Up to 25 cm

The rounded appearance does not look like starfish, but it has ambulacral grooves containing tube feet on its oral side. Juveniles are flat star shaped, but as they get matured, the body swells and arms become less prominent. This species favors to feed on corals. It sticks its stomach out directly onto corals to melt and uptake the corals.

---

Updated June 2017

back to "Movies of Okinawa creatures" page