Phylum Echinodermata > Class Stelleroida > Subclass Asteroidea
Pentaceraster sea star
Pentaceraster mammilatus
Family Oreasteridae
updated Aug 10

Where seen? This large sea star is a new record for Singapore! It was discovered on Cyrene Reef, a submerged reef in the middle of our port.

Features: Diameter with arms to about 15cm.
Hard, heavy body with long tapering arms that are thick and triangular in cross-section. It has a regular pattern of white rounded knobs on the upper surface. The underside is pale and it has pink tube feet.

This sea star was previously known to exist only in the western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, so its presence in Singapore waters represents a considerable range increase.


Baby stars: A small one (about 5cm wide) was seen at Cyrene Reef in Apr 10. Does this mean that the sea stars are breeding there?

A small one was seen!
Cyrene Reef, Apr 10
Photo shared by Sean Yap on his blog.

Cyrene Reef, Apr 08


A small one about 9cm in diameter.
Cyrene Reef, May 10


Cyrene Reef, May 11

Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his blog.

Cyrene Reef, Aug 10

Shared by Neo Mei Lin on her blog.

more photos of pentaceraster sea stars on Singapore shores
part 1 | part 2 | part 3

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