Choriaster granulatus

Choriaster granulatus
Choriaster granulatus in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Echinodermata
Class:	Asteroidea
Order:	Valvatida
Family:	Oreasteridae
Genus:	Choriaster Lütken, 1869
Species:	C. granulatus
Binomial name
Choriaster granulatus Lütken, 1869

Choriaster granulatus, commonly known as the granulated sea star, cushion seastar,and doughboy star, is a species of starfish. It is the only species in the genus Choriaster.

Choriaster granulatus is a large seastar, and is easily identified by its five distinctive large, short, thick conical arms. It is usually pale pink in colour, has small, brown papillae in clusters located in the central part of its body. This species grows to a maximum radius of approximately 27 cm.

This species is found in numerous tropical waters, including:

Choriaster granulatus lives in shallow waters at depths of up to 40 metres, and is found on rubble slopes, coral reefs, in the reef front, back reef, the external reef, and frequently in locations with rubble and detritus.

This starfish feed on algae, detritus, and dead animals. One of its predators is the sea snail Triton's trumpet (Charonia tritonis). It also eats various small invertebrates and coral polyps.

...
Wikipedia