Horned sea star

Scientific name : Protoreaster nodosus

Large sea star, high and though. 5 short triangular arms. The background colour changes between cream and orange, with large pointed tubercles, blue, black or dark green in colour. 30 cm diameter.
Living in shallow water in lagoon or back reef.
We found in our area another Protoreaster sp., short spined and with a reticulated pattern on the back.

Associated organisms
Often encountered in seagrasses meadows. It can host the parasitic gastropod Thyca astericola. Sometimes it hosts the commensal shrimp Periclimenes soror.