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sand bar

Sand star
Astropecten sp.
Family Astropectinidae

Sand stars are sometimes seen in sandy pools in the seagrass lagoon and near the northern arm of the sand bar, especially on a cool morning or evening. They tend to be more active at night, remaining buried in the sand during the day.

Sand star parts: Sand stars have particularly long spines on the sides of their arms. These spines are harmless and probably help them to burrow more quickly into the sand. Sand stars are small and can be fast moving, often 'racing' across the sandy bottom of a pool. Their tube feet are modified for a more powerful downward thrust and end in points instead of suckers. These probably allow them to get a grip on soft sediments and burrow more quickly.

Sand star food: These small sea stars are carnivores! They hunt bivalves and snails, but also eat any small creatures that are buried in the sand. They find buried prey by the substances they release. These sea stars don't push their stomachs out of their mouths and simply swallow their prey whole.

Another Sand star

Pointy tube feet
Sand star tube feet
do not end in suckers

quick facts
Diameter with arms 5-10cm, sometimes seen

Classification:
Class Asteroidea
Phylum Echinodermata

See also ...
Sea stars in general for more details
Echinoderms in general

Other references

Barnes, Robert D. & Ruppert, Edward E., 1996. Invertebrate Zoology. Harcourt College Publishers. 6th Edition. pp. 1056, G-1-16, I-1-30.
Schoppe, S., 2000. Echinoderms of the Philippines. Times Edition, Singapore. 144 pp.
Chuang, S. H., 1961. On Malayan Shores. Muwu Shosa, Singapore.225 pp., plates 1-112.
Tan, Leo W. H. & Ng, Peter K. L., 1988. A Guide to Seashore Life. The Singapore Science Centre, Singapore. 160 pp. online version

a companion website to the chek jawa guidebook website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com

a companion website to the chek jawa guidebook
website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com