Oreaster reticulatus

Oreaster reticulatus

The Reticulated cushion star ( Oreaster reticulatus ), also called network - cushion star, is a large, 45 to 50 centimeters in diameter -reach starfish. He lives in the tropical western Atlantic from South Carolina to Brazil, and in the eastern Atlantic to the Cape Verde Islands.

Features

The Reticulated cushion star has a solid body with the hull approach is very broad, almost front tapered arms. His body is covered with solid plates and short, blunt, a net-like pattern forming spines. In the mid-fuselage form a 5 - angular structure. Young animals are usually colored green. Adult specimens are usually brown or red with a yellow grid pattern or yellow with red spikes.

Way of life

Reticulated cushion star live singly or in groups on sandy areas, often between seagrass, at depths of between one and 35 meters. They feed on detritus, microbes, sponges, mollusks and other echinoderms, smaller conspecifics. For food they put on their stomach and digest from outside the body.

Reticulated cushion stars are likely dioecious, asexual reproduction has not been observed.

Because of the beautiful colors, the animals are collected, dried and sold as souvenirs to tourists.