"Chocolate chip sea star" redirects here. For the related East Pacific species known by this name, see Nidorellia armata.
Protoreaster nodosus, commonly known as the horned sea star or chocolate chip sea star,[1] is a species of sea star found in the warm, shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific region. They are sometimes seen in the marine aquarium trade or dried and sold as curios.
Dried specimenA group of knobby sea stars in MalaysiaDried sea stars for touristic trade in Philippines
P. nodosus possess rows of spines or "horns"; black conical points arranged in a single row, radially on the dorsal side, which may erode and become blunt. These dark protrusions are used to scare away possible predators, by looking frightening or dangerous. On the ventral side, tube feet, purple in color (or pale, transparent pink), are arranged in rows on each arm. Most horned sea stars found are a roughly rigid five-pointed star-shape with tapering arms to the end, although there are anomalies like four or six-armed specimens; they may grow up to 30 cm (12 in) in diameter.[2] The sea stars are usually colored in shades of red or brown, but can be light tan, the color of cookie dough. This appearance, combined with the small horns on its dorsal side, give the sea star a look similar to that of a bumpy cookie.
Oral face
Habitat and behavioredit
Horned sea stars prefer sheltered, sandy or slightly muddy bottoms to hard substrata such as coral reef, and are frequently sighted conspicuously between the leaves of seagrasses on sea grass meadows or on blank stretch of coral sand, which field studies suggest the species could be restricted to the western Pacific Ocean (Thailand to Samoa and Japan to New Caledonia). In shallow water, this species can be seen intertidally, occasionally exposed to the low tide. They do not withstand rapid changes well, however, and usually keep themselves underwater. Sometimes, many individuals of this species can be seen gathering on soft bottom with reason not very well known, probably to increase the chance of fertilization when spawning or simply a suitable feeding ground.
Horned sea stars seem to be opportunistic carnivores; adults are known to prey on most sessile life forms including hard corals and sponges in aquarium. In this same setting, they will hunt down snails and eat them. An individual of horned sea star also has been observed eating a sea urchin in their natural habitat.[3]
As with other tropical echinoderms, commensal animals like shrimps (of genus Periclimenes), tiny brittle stars and even juvenile filefish can be found on the surfaces of a horned sea star. This may be attributed to its protective nature, as there are few predators that would dare to eat this echinoderm.
Overharvestingedit
In many tropical Asian and Pacific countries, where horned sea stars are collected for sea shelltrade, overharvesting reduces greatly the population of the echinoderms. A related species, the Atlantic Oreaster reticulatus, commonly known as Bahama Sea Star, is also a once-abundant species reduced in number due to the continuous harvesting by the industry and tourists alike.
Referencesedit
^. Archived from the original on 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
^Arthur R. Bos; Girley S. Gumanao; Joan C.E. Alipoyo; Lemuel T. Cardona (2008-10-08). "Population dynamics, reproduction and growth of the Indo-Pacific horned sea star, Protoreaster nodosus (Echinodermata; Asteroidea)". Marine Biology. 156: 55–63. doi:10.1007/s00227-008-1064-2. hdl:2066/72067.
^Gremli MS, Newman HE, Insight Guides Underwater: Marine Life In the South China Sea, page 159. APA Publications GmbH & Co. Verlag KG., 1993
Bibliographyedit
Ducarme, Frédéric (2022). "How to assess the absence of a species? A revision of the geographical range of the horned sea star, Protoreaster nodosus (Echinodermata; Asteroidea)". Frontiers of Biogeography. 14 (3). doi:10.21425/F5FBG56187.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Protoreaster nodosus.
Wild Fact Sheet's fact sheet for Protoreaster nodosus
Photos of Protoreaster nodosus on Sealife Collection
April 19, 2024
protoreaster, nodosus, chocolate, chip, star, redirects, here, related, east, pacific, species, known, this, name, nidorellia, armata, commonly, known, horned, star, chocolate, chip, star, species, star, found, warm, shallow, waters, indo, pacific, region, the. Chocolate chip sea star redirects here For the related East Pacific species known by this name see Nidorellia armata Protoreaster nodosus commonly known as the horned sea star or chocolate chip sea star 1 is a species of sea star found in the warm shallow waters of the Indo Pacific region They are sometimes seen in the marine aquarium trade or dried and sold as curios Horned sea star Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Echinodermata Class Asteroidea Order Valvatida Family Oreasteridae Genus Protoreaster Species P nodosus Binomial name Protoreaster nodosus Linnaeus 1758 Contents 1 Description 2 Habitat and behavior 3 Overharvesting 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDescription edit nbsp Dried specimen nbsp A group of knobby sea stars in Malaysia nbsp Dried sea stars for touristic trade in Philippines P nodosus possess rows of spines or horns black conical points arranged in a single row radially on the dorsal side which may erode and become blunt These dark protrusions are used to scare away possible predators by looking frightening or dangerous On the ventral side tube feet purple in color or pale transparent pink are arranged in rows on each arm Most horned sea stars found are a roughly rigid five pointed star shape with tapering arms to the end although there are anomalies like four or six armed specimens they may grow up to 30 cm 12 in in diameter 2 The sea stars are usually colored in shades of red or brown but can be light tan the color of cookie dough This appearance combined with the small horns on its dorsal side give the sea star a look similar to that of a bumpy cookie nbsp nbsp nbsp Oral faceHabitat and behavior editHorned sea stars prefer sheltered sandy or slightly muddy bottoms to hard substrata such as coral reef and are frequently sighted conspicuously between the leaves of seagrasses on sea grass meadows or on blank stretch of coral sand which field studies suggest the species could be restricted to the western Pacific Ocean Thailand to Samoa and Japan to New Caledonia In shallow water this species can be seen intertidally occasionally exposed to the low tide They do not withstand rapid changes well however and usually keep themselves underwater Sometimes many individuals of this species can be seen gathering on soft bottom with reason not very well known probably to increase the chance of fertilization when spawning or simply a suitable feeding ground Horned sea stars seem to be opportunistic carnivores adults are known to prey on most sessile life forms including hard corals and sponges in aquarium In this same setting they will hunt down snails and eat them An individual of horned sea star also has been observed eating a sea urchin in their natural habitat 3 As with other tropical echinoderms commensal animals like shrimps of genus Periclimenes tiny brittle stars and even juvenile filefish can be found on the surfaces of a horned sea star This may be attributed to its protective nature as there are few predators that would dare to eat this echinoderm Overharvesting editIn many tropical Asian and Pacific countries where horned sea stars are collected for sea shell trade overharvesting reduces greatly the population of the echinoderms A related species the Atlantic Oreaster reticulatus commonly known as Bahama Sea Star is also a once abundant species reduced in number due to the continuous harvesting by the industry and tourists alike References edit Shedd Aquarium Archived from the original on 2007 10 11 Retrieved 2007 11 10 Arthur R Bos Girley S Gumanao Joan C E Alipoyo Lemuel T Cardona 2008 10 08 Population dynamics reproduction and growth of the Indo Pacific horned sea star Protoreaster nodosus Echinodermata Asteroidea Marine Biology 156 55 63 doi 10 1007 s00227 008 1064 2 hdl 2066 72067 Gremli MS Newman HE Insight Guides Underwater Marine Life In the South China Sea page 159 APA Publications GmbH amp Co Verlag KG 1993Bibliography editDucarme Frederic 2022 How to assess the absence of a species A revision of the geographical range of the horned sea star Protoreaster nodosus Echinodermata Asteroidea Frontiers of Biogeography 14 3 doi 10 21425 F5FBG56187 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Protoreaster nodosus Wild Fact Sheet s fact sheet for Protoreaster nodosus Photos of Protoreaster nodosus on Sealife Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Protoreaster nodosus amp oldid 1215900040, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
