Pincushion sea star (Culcita schmideliana)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Culcita schmideliana
- Common name
- Pincushion sea star
- Category
- Echinoderms
- Family
- Oreasteridae
- Genus
- Culcita
- Size
- 15–30 cm
- Depth
- 1–35 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef, sand
- Behaviours
- solitary, slow
- Ocean zones
- Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Culcita schmideliana reaches 30 cm. Remarkable sea star by its shape: massive pentagonal with near-absent arms (fused into a cushion). Upper surface adorned with reticulated red, orange, brown and white patterns. Moves very slowly over coral and sandy-rocky Indo-Pacific bottoms between 1 and 35 m. Feeds on live coral by everting its stomach. Found in the Red Sea, Maldives, Indonesia, Polynesia.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Pincushion sea star?
- Pincushion sea star (Culcita schmideliana) reaches 15–30 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Pincushion sea star?
- Pincushion sea star is found between 1–35 m deep.
- Is the Pincushion sea star dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Pincushion sea star?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Pincushion sea star?
- Found in: Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Culcita
Other species in the family Oreasteridae
- Oreaster reticulatus - Red cushion sea star
- Protoreaster lincki - Red-knobbed sea star
- Protoreaster nodosus - Chocolate chip sea star
- Choriaster granulatus - Granulated Starfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 212295)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5187238)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia